MMDA: Metro traffic woes back due to infra projects

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Friday that the traffic problem is back in Metro Manila, and it is due to the ongoing priority projects of the government, which will benefit Filipinos in the long run.

MMDA Director for Traffic Enforcement Atty. Victor Nuñez said that there are many priority projects being undertaken now by the Marcos administration.

«We all know that there are many priority projects and big projects contributing to the traffic like the MRT Line 7 along Commonwealth Avenue, the projects along SM North near Trinoma and the subway projects in Pasig, which will start at the boring machines,» he said in a mix of Filipino and English.

«There are many high-impact projects that would benefit the Filipinos in the future, so we are asking for patience and are sorry for the traffic,» he added.

Nuñez explained that there is also an increase in the volume of vehicles in Metro Manila.

«From 2022 to 2023, there was an increase of 50 percent in vehicles in the National Capital Region (NCR) and neighboring cities in the provinces of Bulacan and Laguna that traverse Metro Manila, especially during rush hours,» he said.

Leave earlier

The MMDA official advised motorists and the riding public to leave earlier so as not to take traffic head on.

«Please leave earlier than your usual time. Give ample time to leave earlier so won't bear the brunt of the vehicular traffic congestion,» he said.

E-Trikes

Meanwhile, the MMDA said that they will submit with the Metro Manila Council for approval next week a resolution that would regulate electric motorcycles, tricycles on major thoroughfares.

He said that fines will be implemented. «There were e-bikes being recorded using major thoroughfares — on the super highways, and SLEx,» he said.

«We do not discriminate [against e-bikes], we just want to regulate [them],» he added.