BUS terminals along Edsa will soon be removed and barricades in bus lanes will be installed to help attain the promised "five-minute travel" from Cubao to Makati City by the last quarter of the year.
President Rodrigo Duterte earlier promised that motorists will be able to travel from Cubao in Quezon City to Makati within five minutes.
To comply with Duterte's order, the Philippine National Police (PNP) Highway Patrol Group (HPG) is preparing measures such as the removal of bus terminals along Edsa, deployment of barricades in bus lanes to prevent them from going out of their lanes and to further enforce bus lane, and the transfer of motorcycle lanes on the third lane.
HPG Director Brigadier General Roberto Fajardo said they closely coordinating with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Department of Transportation and Metro Manila Development Authority for the implementation of the said measures.
Fajardo said the President’s pronouncement is currently applicable but only during the wee hours of the night.
“Tinira namin (ng 4 minute 58 seconds), madaling araw nga lang nung tinira namin, mga ala una ng madaling araw, walang traffic from Guadalupe to Cubao, both north and southbound. Wala naman kasing sinabi ang President kung san magsimula so kaya. Kaya lang madaling araw,” he said.
But he said they are yet to know if five minutes is attainable during the usual rush hours of the day but they will do what they can in order to deliver.
“’Yun nga ang ating ginagawang plano ngayon. Hindi pa natin alam kung kaya yan kasi kailangan pa nating ayusing ang bus lane...lalagyan natin ng mga harang ‘yung para sa bus lane tapos ‘yung motorcycle lane lalagay natin sa third lane,” said Fajardo.
“At the same time, tatanggalin na natin ang mga terminal along Edsa,” he added.
He said they are currently conducting a dialogue with concerned groups for the implementation of the measures.
Fajardo said also part of the measures is the intensified implementation of traffic rules particularly along Edsa.
He said at least 50 personnel who were deputized by the LTO to issue violation tickets will be deployed along Edsa.
“Kasama na ang disiplina ng mga motorist kaya dineputize kami ng LTO para wala kaming gawin ng gawin kundi maniket ng maniket,” said Fajardo.
He said they are completing the security and safety features of the 50 BMW motorcycles donated by Ramon Ang. It will be used by the HPG personnel who will be deployed in Edsa by July.
Motorcycle ride hailing company Angkas has also donated 50 helmets to the HPG.
Angkas will be re-launched in the coming week, according to its regulatory and public affairs head, George Royeca.
Fajardo said they are optimistic that Angkas will not add up to the traffic congestion but will be a solution to it.
Angkas has at least 12,000 riders.
Royeca assured the safety of their passengers and the riders.
“Meron pong passenger and driver accident insurance. Pareho po ‘yung pasahero pati ‘yung driver. Meron po silang separate coverage. Ang coverage po nyan is P450,000 for death and dismemberment and up to P100,000 po for medical reimbursement. So ito po ‘yung accident insurance ng Angkas, lahat ng riders and passengers are covered po doon,” he said. (SunStar Philippines)