EDSA vehicular volume to increase by 20% amid holidays -MMDA

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Friday said it expected a 20% increase in the volume of vehicles plying EDSA during the holidays.

"Right now, we are at 409,000 (vehicles that passed through EDSA in a day)... pero may mga traffic management plans naman tayo and may mga measures tayong ginawa para mas maging maayos ang daloy ng trapiko," MMDA Assistant Secretary David Angelo Vargas told BaliTanghali.

(Right now, we are at 409,000 but we have traffic management plans and measures to ensure the smooth flow of traffic.)

Vargas advised motorists to expect heavy traffic due to the Christmas rush.

The MMDA earlier said they saw a possible 15% increase in vehicular volume in the major thoroughfare during the "Ber" months. However, the agency said the adjusted mall hours would help mitigate the traffic.

Mall operators adjusted their operating hours for the Christmas season to 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. starting November 13, 2023.

Fewer violators

Meanwhile, the MMDA said it observed fewer private vehicles entering the EDSA Busway following the implementation of stiffer fines for violators.

From at least 1,800 in November, Vargas said violations were now down to 400 to 500.

"Mostly mga motorsiklo ang sumusubok na lumusot pero significantly, talagang bumaba po 'yung mga violators po natin," he said.

(Most of the violators are motorcyclists. The number of violators significantly dropped.)

The MMDA started imposing stiffer fines for violators on November 13 after the Metro Manila Council (MMC) approved a resolution increasing the penalty for those who would use the exclusive city bus lane/bus carousel lane along EDSA.

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

• 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

— DVM, GMA Integrated News