Edsa road closures frustrate motorists, commuters

INQUIRER file photo

MANILA, Philippines — Not everyone walking along Edsa were there to join the festivities.

The government’s decision to keep this year’s Edsa Revolution anniversary as a working holiday was met with little amusement by workers, even more so after they found out during their morning commutes that parts of Metro Manila’s main arterial highway had been closed to traffic.

Netizens contemplated whether authorities stopped to consider the effects caused by the road closures on commuters. –Dan Paurom

Why shut down roads leading to central business districts if no work holiday will be declared?

— Marga (@margadeona) February 25, 2015

STUPID govt. Declaring work & blocking a major road. Workers stuck in traffic for hours @noynoyaquino @inquirerdotnet @MMDA #edsa2015 #edsa

— Ryan Silverio (@ryanvsilverio) February 25, 2015

I feel for everyone caught in traffic-geddon because a portion of EDSA was closed.

— philippinebeat (@philippinebeat) February 25, 2015

This administration really has a nasty habit of screwing the middle class. Sarap i-powerbomb nung nagisip na isara Edsa.

— Carlo Ople (@carloople) February 25, 2015

“Let’s celebrate Edsa anniversary by pissing off all the hardworking tax paying middleclass!” – said this administration

— Carlo Ople (@carloople) February 25, 2015

Entire morning in the car. First time to miss training due to traffic. Didn’t even reach my destination.

— Chris Tiu (@chris_tiu) February 25, 2015

Perhaps we can just commemorate EDSA the event without jamming EDSA the street. Creative solutions welcome.

— Bob Guerrero (@PassionateFanPH) February 25, 2015

Commemorating an important part of our history is great..closing off a big stretch of a major thoroughfare on a workday just not so great.

— menchu macapagal (@scarletonradio) February 25, 2015

Some commuters opted to settle for the lesser of two ills.

Better squashed in the MRT rather than being stuck in traffic and late for work. Hay EDSA day.

— Moise Santos (@moiselita) February 24, 2015

It was slow-moving day for these media personalities.

More than an hour trying to get to work and still on the road! I wish our traffic planners consider the cost of shutting down streets.

— Maria Ressa (@maria_ressa) February 25, 2015

Handog ng Pilipino sa mundo…. Ay trapik.

Traffic is so bad Waze is telling me to stay home.

— Ricky Carandang (@rickycarandang) February 25, 2015

There were also some unwilling participants of the “Unity Walk.”

People who need to work are either stranded or walking to their workplaces. Meanwhile the jobless are in EDSA being ‘productive’.

— Ellaine C. De Guzman (@llainey) February 25, 2015

Walked the length of EDSA in order to get inside Ortigas. #morningexercise #work

— Klayre M. Tan (@klayre330) February 25, 2015

A different experience from the renowned hiking trails of Albay for Governor Joey Salceda.

Di ako makamove-on, sarado ang EDSA. I realised that if you want to move on, WALK.

— Joey Sarte Salceda (@jssalceda) February 25, 2015

Road-navigation app Waze is a veritable sea of red according to Senator JV Ejercito.

Traffic inside San Juan! Since EDSA is closed. Everyone is passing here! Its crazy! pic.twitter.com/EhTMrmRIeR

— JV Ejercito (@jvejercito) February 25, 2015