MMDA: Vehicle volume in NCR expected to rise by 15% this holiday season

The volume of vehicles in Metro Manila, particularly in EDSA, is expected to increase by 15% this holiday season, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Tuesday.

“Actually, itong mga policies na inilalabas namin during Christmas season ay tumitingin sa influx ng pasengers sa EDSA in particular, kasi we expect 15% increase in volume when the ber months comes. We mitigate,” said MMDA Task Force Special Operations Chief Bong Nebrija at a public briefing.

(Actually, these policies we issue during the Christmas season are based on the influx of passengers in EDSA in particular because we expect a 15% increase in volume when the ber months come. We mitigate.) 

He added that the expected adjusted mall hours in the National Capital Region (NCR) will help mitigate traffic. 

“Eleven o’clock na ‘yung mall hours natin, mas madaling naibubuhos yung traffic going to south part (like) Makati, ‘yung mga nago-opisina, mas madali. ‘Yung mga empleyado ng malls, hindi na sumasabay sa dagsa ng mga pasahero na pumapasok sa opisina,” said Nebrija. 

(The mall hours are now at eleven o'clock, so it's easier for the traffic going to South (like) Makati, so for those who will travel to their offices, it will be easier. The mall employees won’t go along with many passengers going to their office.) 

Nebrija also reminded motorists about stiffer fines for EDSA Busway violators. 

Under MMDA Regulation No. 23-002, the increased fines for the violation of both public and private vehicles are: 

• First offense – P5,000
• Second offense – P10,000 plus one-month suspension of driver’s license, and required to undergo a road safety seminar
• Third offense – P20,000 plus one-year suspension of driver’s license
• Fourth offense – P30,000 plus recommendation to Land Transportation Office for revocation of driver’s license

“We were really hoping that the higher penalties will deter the violators. Tinatanong namin (ang mga violators), na iniiinterview namin na mga nahuhuli, alam niyo ba na P5,000 na ang huli ngayon, ay, Sir hindi po namin alam, may mga nagdadahilan. But then again, tatanungin, alam niyo ba na bwal kayo sa busway, opo. So whether its P1,000 O P5,000, the mere fact na alam niyong bawal diyan, dapat hindi niyo ginagawa,” he stressed. 

(We were hoping that the higher penalties would deter the violators. We ask them if they know that the fine is now P5,000. They said they didn't know. But then again, we will ask, do you know that you are not allowed on the busway? Yes. So whether it's P1,000 or P5,000, the mere fact that you know it's not allowed, you should not do it.) —Sundy Locus/ VAL, GMA Integrated News