IN response to the appeal of motorists and local government units, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday assured the House Committee on Metro Manila Development that it will reopen more U-turn slots at Edsa by Friday.
MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia confirmed the planned reopening during the committee hearing on Tuesday chaired by Manila First District Rep. Manuel T. Lopez.
Garcia said the decision was made in consultation with the Quezon City government whose residents have been greatly affected by the traffic jam triggered by the closure of many U-turn slots along Edsa, which is part of the Edsa Busway Project that exclusively designates the innermost lane of Edsa to buses.
He said the MMDA will open the U-turn slot in front of the Quezon City Academy, while other U-turn slots may be opened to emergency vehicles.
For his part, Lopez said his committee has conducted the hearing to provide positive results and solutions, both on a short-term and long-term basis on Metro Manila’s traffic problems.
“We are all one in recognizing this traffic situation has already reached such magnitude and that there is really no easy fix to this problem. Today, the MMDA acknowledged the gravity of the problem and has promised by Friday to immediately cooperate with concern governments and…open-up a U-turn slot this Friday,” Lopez said.
“Our goal is to have long-term and effective solutions to our traffic problems. Until we achieve this goal, our committee will continue monitoring the development of the projects to ensure that the public is given what it deserves,” he added.
Lopez, meanwhile, asked the MMDA to ensure the safety and welfare of the commuters and motorists in the implementation of the project, stressing the crucial impacts of heavy traffic in the major thoroughfare.
“This issue does not only affect the residents of Quezon City, or Caloocan, or Makati or those residents or localities that is traversed by Edsa. This issue affects the whole of Metro Manila and in a large part the whole of the country,” he said.
“Traffic and delays in this major thoroughfare spills over to most other roads in the metropolis. With this traffic in all areas affected, precious time is lost. Irrecoverable time of our people and economic losses which if quantified will surely be substantial,” he added.