Push Admin

Heavier traffic looms; MMDA braces for holiday rush

Article (news)

Anjo Bagaoisan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/tvpatrol/10/04/20181005-traffic.jpg"/><figcaption>Heavy traffic along EDSA-Kamuning area. Gigie Cruz, ABS-CBN News/File</figcaption></figure></div>Heavier traffic will not be a surprise for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as the holiday season comes into full swing this month. MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said this is due to the increase of vehicle ownership from 450,000 in 2017 to 500,000 this year, with 3 out of 10 new cars used in Metro Manila.&quot;Saan dadaan iyan, wala namang kalsadang nadagdagan,&quot; he told reporters Friday. To curb this, the agency said it will meet with various sectors on Monday as part of the annual effort to curb traffic volume, especially during rush hour. Garcia said they invited the operators of the 15 malls along the EDSA highway to discuss delaying their opening time by at least one hour. &quot;Yung isang oras sa mall, malaking bagay yan. Yung pupunta doon di na sasabay sa rush hour. Yung mga empleyado niyan di na sasabay sa pag-commute,&quot; he said. Garcia added the malls would still be allowed to set their own closing hours. Also included in the meeting are representatives of the DPWH. The MMDA will ask DPWH to schedule repair work at EDSA during weekend nights.Representatives of utility companies will also be asked to halt excavation and repair activities for the season except for emergency cases. &quot;Lahat ng sectors dapat pag-usapan iyan,&quot; Garcia said. <div>MMDA TO STILL PUSH FOR CARPOOLING</div>Meanwhile, the MMDA said that it is still encouraging motorists to follow the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) carpooling scheme as a means of reducing vehicle volume in EDSA. The HOV scheme, where only vehicles with two or more occupants will be allowed in the thoroughfare, is still in limbo pending discussions with Congress. Legislators earlier called on the MMDA to stop apprehending violators. Citing how traffic was freed up in the initial days of the HOV dry run, Garcia said this could be a long-term solution that could enable more public utility vehicles such as buses to service commuters. &quot;Kahit walang apprehension, sumunod pa rin tayo. Number one solution pa rin ang car pooling,&quot; he said. The MMDA plans to remove the coding scheme for buses should private vehicle traffic go down as a result of the HOV scheme, but there has been no private sector participation or support on this. He said previous car restriction schemes like the odd-even and number coding schemes are not sustainable since people would buy additional vehicles to get around them. Garcia also cited various road infrastructure projects by the DPWH that have been opened or are nearing completion, which could help alleviate congestion:- Concordia southbound Bridge in Quirino, which opened Oct. 4- The 10-km Laguna Lake Highway from Bicutan to Taytay, Rizal, billed as an alternate route from the south to east part of Metro Manila, nearing completion- Harbor Link from Smart Connect to C3 to open in December- C5 extension to Coastal Road and Bacoor, Cavite which will be opened &quot;anytime&quot;

Heavier traffic will not be a surprise for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as the holiday season comes into full swing this month.

Heavier traffic will not be a surprise for the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) as the holiday season comes into full swing this month.

Heavier traffic looms; MMDA braces for holiday rush

News

Entertainment

Lifestyle

Sports

Metro.Style

More

Sudoku

Word of the Day

Lotto

Horoscope

News

Heavier traffic looms; MMDA braces for holiday rush

Anjo Bagaoisan,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 06, 2018 12:42 AM PHT

Read More:

MMDA

traffic

Jojo Garcia

vehicles

transportation

EDSA

ABS-CBN is the leading media and entertainment company in the Philippines, offering quality content across TV, radio, digital, and film. Committed to public service and promoting Filipino values, ABS-CBN continues to inspire and connect audiences worldwide.

Corporate

Investors

Governance

International Distribution

Corporate

Governance

Investors

International Distribution

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

AI Policy

Terms of Service

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

NPC Seal of Registration

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

AI Policy

Advertise with Us

© 2026 ABS-CBN Corporation. All Rights Reserved.