A Party-list lawmaker on Tuesday scored the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for its continued failure to improve the traffic situation in the National Capital Region.
Buhay Party-list Rep. Lito Atienza said the MMDA should find a measure to address the worsening traffic situation in the metropolis, especially along major thoroughfares like Edsa.
“The MMDA is failing in its traffic management,” Atienza said after the recent meeting of the House Committee on Metro Manila Development tackling Edsa Traffic Management.
“This is the umpteenth time that we have asked the MMDA to do something about the worsening traffic in the metropolis, which affects the commuting public in particular and the economy in general. No matter how much we widen our avenues, if illegal bus and FX terminals are allowed to proliferate along major thoroughfares, we will still end up with traffic bottlenecks. What’s worse, our traffic enforcers lack the proper training,” Atienza added.
Earlier, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), citing its study, said that if the national government does not implement interventions, the Metro Manila traffic gridlock may cost the country some P6 billion a day by 2030 in terms of productivity losses.
Jovee Marie N. dela Cruz