By Merlina Hernando-Malipot

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Friday announced the temporary suspension of the full enforcement of its Expanded High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Traffic scheme along the stretch of Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) after receiving adverse reaction from motorists and finally the Senate.

In a press briefing, MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia announced that the August 23 implementation of the HOV scheme – when violators would start to be penalized – is on “status quo”until the Metro Manila Council convenes next week.

The MMDA, Garcia said, has no power to suspend the HOV because it is based on an MMC resolution composed of 17 mayors, vice mayors, and councilors. He said only the MMC can stop the EDSA scheme.

But while the full implementation of the HOV lane is suspended, the dry run will continue. “We’re calling on the public that even if the full implementation of HOV is suspended, please participate in the dry run, we might appreciate it,” he said.

Welcome move

Senator Grace Poe welcomed the MMDA’s move and urged the agency to conduct public consultations on the proposed HOV scheme.

“We welcome the suspension of the HOV traffic scheme,” Poe, who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Services, said in a statement following the development.

“[It’s] Time to go back to the drawing board to think hard what can be done to solve our traffic woes. Policies should always be practical, implementable and in line with public interest,” she said.

“Mag-public consultation muna kayo,” she suggested.

Poebelieves strict implementation of existing laws will help ease traffic along EDSA.

In a text message Friday afternoon, Senate President Vicente Sotto III likewise welcomed the deferment of the HOV scheme.

“Mabutinaman.Dapat solve munanila parking issues ng Metro Manila (Good. They should first solve parking issues in Metro Manila),” he told reporters.

Before adjourning its session for the holidays on Wednesday, the Senate unanimously passed a resolution urging the MMDA to stop the implementation of the HOV scheme on EDSA. The resolution was sent to MMDA Friday.

After talking to several mayors, Garcia said they “unanimously” decided to suspend the full implementation of the HOV until the MMC convenes and make a final decision. “We respect wisdom of our Senators asking us to stop the full implementation of the HOV,” he said. “The mere fact they issued resolution, we respect that because nothing will happen if we don’t work together,” he added.

“The reason we’re doing this is not to make the people suffer, we’re doing this because we’re waiting for the long-term solution,” Garcia said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Band-aid solution

The policy on HOV as well as the provincial bus ban, Garcia admitted, is just “band-aid solution” because the long-term solution on solving traffic mainly relies on infrastructure. “This is already being done by the government and we’re also improving our mass transportation system,” he said.

Garcia said that infrastructure takes years to be completed. “We cannot wait for the long term solution which is infrastructure and we cannot just sit around and do nothing while we wait for these long term solution,” he noted. “We need to understand also that the traffic in Metro Manila did not happen overnight, it has been a problem for decades now and the solution cannot be carried out overnight,” he added.

Starting this year, Garcia said several bridges in Metro Manila will undergo improvement works that include repairs on Estrella Bridge, Rockwell Bridge, and Binondo Bridge while the Guadalupe Bridge will undergo rehabilitation next year.

“We are facing a lot of problems,” said Garcia. Based on the agency’s monitoring, the policy eased traffic flow on EDSA during the start of the week-long dry run.

The establishment of HOV lanes on EDSA bans driver only vehicles from traversing EDSA from North Avenue in Quezon City to Magallanes in Makati City during rush hour: 7 am to 10 am and 6 pm to 9 pm on weekdays.