The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is implementing a two-week dry run allowing all provincial buses from traversing along the stretch of Epifanio de los Santos during nighttime.
MMDA chairman Romando Artes said the dry run would start Thursday night (March 24) from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., with the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board giving the green light to allow provincial buses to ply EDSA.
The move came after the uniform travel protocols cited under Resolution 101 issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force on the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases issued on Feb. 26, 2021 had expired.
Under the resolution, all buses bound for provinces shall be required to use the Integrated Terminal Exchange as the central hub for transportation in Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, the MMDA concluded the three-day multi-stakeholder summit aimed at formulating a comprehensive traffic management plan in Metro Manila.
The agency and representatives from the multi-sectoral stakeholders signed a pledge of commitment for the rationalization, improvement, and enhancement of public and private transportation in the National Capital Region.
Artes said he was thankful for the proposals laid out by the government agencies, private sector, transport groups, transport associations, and local traffic bureaus of the 17 local government units in Metro Manila.
Among the proposed traffic improvement plans are the expansion of the number coding scheme and reimplementation of the truck ban policy, in preparation for the “new normal” as the metropolis eases back into Alert Level 1 for COVID-19 restrictions.
“We will conduct a series of consultations to further improve traffic management in Metro Manila. Rest assured that we will thoroughly study the proposed solutions and we will address the concerns of the commuters and transport sector,” said Artes.
MMDA Assistant General Manager for Planning Jose Campos, who delivered the welcome remarks, appealed to the partners and advocates of better traffic conditions in the metropolis.
“The MMDA cannot do it alone; we need your help—the different government agencies, private sectors, academe, and transport organizations—in developing measures to ease congestion as well as provide better transport management in the region,” Campos said.
“Your commitment will be very much appreciated and I hope this summit will mark our continued journey towards a safer, convenient, and better traffic management,” he added.