00:00Remove the bus carousel and ask for a congestion fee.
00:04This is one of the ideas that were put forward to make EDSA more flexible.
00:08But the decision was accepted by several passengers and motorists.
00:12The MMDA clarified the decision of Ivan Mayrina.
00:20If 470,000 vehicles are allowed per day,
00:24for a road with a capacity of 250,000 per day,
00:27this is the result.
00:29The daily chaos of traffic in EDSA.
00:32The solutions of traffic in Metro Manila were put forward yesterday
00:35by President Bongbong Marcos and the MMDA, DILG and DOTR,
00:39especially the Philippines,
00:41in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations or ASEAN Summit next year.
00:45The timetable and the Preliminary Traffic Management Plan
00:51for the rehab of EDSA is already being done.
00:55The target is to start in March so that it can be completed in time for the ASEAN.
01:02It will only be done southbound.
01:06One of the solutions that will be implemented
01:08is the removal of the U-turn slot in C5 Kalayaan,
01:11which will be replaced by an underpass.
01:13This is part of the Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan
01:15that was put forward by the Japan International Cooperation Agency or JICA.
01:19But the most controversial possible idea that was put forward
01:22is the removal of the EDSA bus carousel so that the EDSA can move more easily.
01:26The MMDA clarified immediately.
01:28This will only be done if the capacity of the MRT-3 and the free line is increased.
01:33It will be made exclusive for high-occupancy vehicles
01:36or for three-passenger vehicles or more.
01:39There has been a lot of criticism from those who use it.
01:43But the MMDA clarified immediately that this is just a criticism
01:46and it depends on an important condition.
01:49In my situation, no.
01:51Because the EDSA bus carousel is a big part of me.
01:54No. If it happens, I will just use the MRT.
01:58The primary factor there is, again,
02:03if the MRT can accommodate all passengers,
02:09including those who ride the bus carousel.
02:14So, until that happens, the bus carousel will not be removed.
02:20Another way that was thought of
02:22to avoid the EDSA's harassment of motorists
02:25is the congestion fee, which is as high as the toll on the EDSA every rush hour.
02:30But the President himself said that this may not be the right time.
02:33It can only be done if there is an alternative,
02:36if our transport is more efficient.
02:39Currently, consultations are being conducted with local governments.
02:43The MMDA's bus carousel adjusts the working hours
02:46from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. according to the government's requirements.
02:50300,000 commuters can commute in this bus carousel.
02:55But the private sector and the public
02:59who are making transactions with the government
03:01still need to be consulted in order to be affected by this adjustment.
03:04The policies regarding the traffic problems
03:06come from government agencies.
03:08But what about the bus carousels of ordinary motorists and commuters
03:12who come here every day?
03:14It's just mass transport.
03:15If you look at other countries, they are really investing in MRT.
03:19Our mass transport can be improved.
03:21For GMA Integrated News, Ivan Mayrena reporting for 24 Hours.
03:27The Transportation Department believes
03:29that EDSA Busway is one of the most promising public transportation in Metro Manila.
03:34It has served more than 63 million passengers last year.
03:39The DOTR is just waiting for the results of the study
03:42on how to improve the operation of the busway.
03:45As for the plan to open the bike lanes for motorcycles,
03:49it should be carried out.
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