AS if getting stranded on Epifanio delos Santos Avenue on a Friday evening with no available transportation weren’t enough, commuters should expect worse traffic this weekend after the Metro Manila Development Authority announced the resumption of road re-blocking and other repairs.
At the same time, opposition leader and Leyte Rep. Martin Romualdez urged the government to prioritize long-term solutions to the worsening traffic problem in Metro Manila instead of just implementing short-term band-aid measures.
The Department of Public Works and Highways resumed the road works Friday night following a two-week suspension imposed by the MMDA on diggings, re-blocking and repairs because of heavy traffic over the holidays.
MMDA chairman Emerson Carlos said the DPWH will undertake road reblocking and repairs starting 10 p.m. Friday (Jan. 8) until 5 a.m. of Monday (Jan. 11) at the following areas in Quezon City and Pasig City:
• Along the first southbound lane of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue between Mother Ignacia Street and Eugenio Lopez.
• Along the northbound outermost lane of Circumferential Road—5 (C-5) from Shell Gas Station to SM Warehouse Gate 2, and second northbound lane of Edsa fronting the DPWH Second Engineering District Office.
Carlos said DPWH-National Capital Region director Melvin Navarro has recommended the reblocking and repair of the said areas for maintenance purposes. He added all affected roads will be fully passable by 5 a.m. on Monday.
Motorists are advised to avoid the said areas and use alternate routes instead.
Last month, the MMDA imposed a two-week moratorium on road diggings and excavations in the metropolis in anticipation of the heavy vehicular and pedestrian traffic during the Holiday travel rush.
MMDA Traffic Engineering Center chief Noemi Recio said the temporary stoppage of road works, totaling 146 all around Metro Manila, was implemented from Dec. 14, 2015 up to midnight last Jan. 3.
There was exemption to the moratorium, however, including the flagship projects of the national government such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Skyway and road works that do not obstruct or block vehicular traffic.
Romualdez, for his part, said “we must take other steps to significantly reduce traffic along this major artery. What we need is to refurbish and upgrade the MRT-3 as soon as possible and maintain it properly. h
Romualdez, a lawyer and president of the Philippine Constitution Association, suggested that more resources should be spent on the ailing Philippine National Railways so that it could modernize its fleet and existing rail network.
Romualdez, a senatorial candidate, pointed out that with experts saying that more than P2 billion is lost everyday to horrible traffic jams in Metro Manila, the government should focus on upgrading mass transport and road infrastructure as this would benefit the economy as a whole.
Romualdez the government should also do everything possible to make private contractors involved in existing road projects, such as the Skyway, to speed up construction and finish these ahead of time.
“Many road infrastructure projects are taking too long to finish for one reason or another, such as right-of-way issues which only the government can solve,” Romualdez, a shared senatorial candidate of presidential bets Vice President Jejomar Binay and Davao City Mayor Rodrigo Duterte, pointed out.
“The administration needs to show more compassion, or malasakit, for ordinary Filipinos who must take efficient mass transport to go to work on a daily basis,” Romualdez pointed out.