MANILA, Philippines —It is not possible according to University of the Philippines Planning and Development Research Foundation, Inc. (UP-Planades) executive director, Dr. Primitivo Cal, to implement a one-way highway traffic scheme along the stretch of EDSA, C5 and Roxas Boulevard.
Dr. Cal explained that the scheme will not be effective in Metro Manila because motorists will have no alternate routes.
“Ginagamit yung one-way system kung merong complimentary road gaya sa New York grid may 2 parallel roads na pwedeng mag opposite sila. In the case of EDSA, ano yung complimentary niya? Ano yung another road na pwede mong gawing yung isa northbound yung isa southbound? Wala di ba, so paano mo ma-implement?” said Dr. Cal.
(Translation: The one-way system is used if there is a complimentary road like in the case of New York grid wherein there are two parallel roads that can be opposite each other. In the case of EDSA, where is its complimentary? Where is the other road that you can use for northbound while the other for southbound? There’s none right? So, how are you going to implement it?)
For Alberto Suansing, secretary general Philippine Global Road Safety Partnership, the said proposal must be given a thorough scientific study.
“Pwedeng tignan yun, hindi natin sinasabing hindi pwede but then, sasabayan mo yun ng malalim na pag-aaral for example yung travel pattern natin, kapag sinabi mo ang buong EDSA northbound lang e di papano yung mag southbound sa’n mo dadalhin,” said Suansing.
(Translation: We can look at it. We’re not saying it’s not possible, but then give it a thorough study, for example, people’s travel pattern. If you say, ‘The whole of EDSA will be northbound only’ where are you going to put motorists going southbound?)
The proposal was introduced by Samar representative and vice chair of the House Committee on Transportation Edgar Sarmiento, in order to ease traffic problems in Metro Manila, directing vehicle traffic in EDSA, C5 and Roxas Boulevard into one way only.
Based on the proposal, all southbound or Pasay-bound vehicles coming from Caloocan will take EDSA.
Meanwhile, northbound vehicles may take C5 Road and Roxas Boulevard.
Motorists have mixed reactions to the proposal.
“Hindi pwede kasi masyado malayo ang iikutan. Hindi okay kasi kung iisipin mo din sa pasahero, magagastusan siya lalo It should not be, because the route would be too far. It’s not okay, if you think about the passengers, it would be more costly for them),” said Jomar, a taxi driver.
“Hindi advisable yung ganung opinyon..yung coding dagdagan pwede pa (It’s not advisable. The coding scheme has a better chance)” said Ernesto Pusing, a UV driver.
“Luluwag nga ang EDSA kung i-one-way pero pano naman ang looban? Sosobra naman ang trapik. Ganun ang mangyayari niyan kapag ginawang one-way ang EDSA, (The one-way scheme may clear EDSA, but what about the inner roads? Traffic will worsen. That’s what’s going to happen if you make EDSA one-way), ” said Floro Bohol, a Grab driver. — Joan Nano| UNTV News & Rescue
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