MMDA: Road clearing to last until June

TO DECONGEST Edsa and provide alternate routes for motorists even after the holiday season, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it would go on clearing the 17 Mabuhay Lanes until June next year.

“We will continue to tow vehicles and fine [drivers] P200 if they park along the streets from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.,” MMDA Chair Emerson Carlos said during the agency’s weekly radio program Sunday.

Based on the regulations set by the MMDA, the Mabuhay Lanes should be free of any form of obstruction between 6 a.m. and 9 p.m. Beyond these hours, people can park their vehicles along the designated alternate routes, Carlos said.

The MMDA added that aside from the existing routes, access roads in the metropolis may also be used as Mabuhay Lanes.

“The local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila can suggest roads which can be used as Mabuhay Lanes. So far, we have not yet received any recommendations from LGUs but these will be a big help to motorists and commuters as well,” Carlos said.

“We want these lanes to [serve as a] model for other roads in Metro Manila which may [be used] as alternate routes but [are blocked] by illegally parked cars and other obstructions like [equipment used by] vulcanizing shops [and] car wash businesses, even basketball courts,” he added.

Carlos said they were hoping that local governments would follow their initiative and also start road clearing operations in their respective areas.

He also expressed hope that the next administration would adopt the program since keeping the lanes free of obstructions would benefit motorists who want to avoid heavy traffic on Edsa.

Earlier, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, who also heads the Edsa Traffic Technical Working Group, said that the government would continue to get rid of roadblocks along the designated alternate routes until traffic flow eases in the metropolis.

“We need to move people in Metro Manila until we build new bridges across [the Pasig River],” he added.

At the same time, Almendras asked for more patience from the public in connection with the clearing of the Mabuhay Lanes, saying the move would benefit commuters.

The clearing of the alternate routes which started on Nov. 2 has been met with resistance by some people.

On Nov. 11, a Quezon City traffic enforcer helping in the MMDA operations was shot dead by a bank security guard.

Enrique Fresnido, 60, a member of the city’s Department of Public Order and Safety, was shot in the head by Alex Batacan, 39, officer in charge of security at BDO West Avenue-East Maya branch in Quezon City, according to a police report.

This was after Fresnido issued Batacan a violation ticket over several motorcycles parked in front of the bank. The guard lost his temper, ran into the bank and came out with a gun which he used against the victim who later died in the hospital.

Batacan, on the other hand, was arrested and charged with murder. – Maricar B. Brizuela