Former Deputy Speaker and Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza
Gov’t urged to allow ordinary motorists to use EDSA Bus Lane
During off-peak hours
FORMER Deputy Speaker and Buhay Partylist Rep. Lito Atienza urged the government to allow ordinary motorists to use the Edsa Bus Lane during off-peak hours, while limiting its exclusive use for buses during rush hours only.
In a letter Atienza wrote to President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., he said “buses can be given this privilege during rush hours—two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening. The rest of the day, let ordinary motorists enjoy the full use of Edsa. It is so sad, even tragic, to see one lane empty most of the day, while ordinary citizens are cramped in the very limited roadway.”
Atienza’s letter to President Marcos, Jr. enumerated several positive suggestions to address the worsening traffic condition in Metro Manila using his actual experience during his three-terms as Mayor of Manila. This includes the enforcement of the existing truck ban in many cities, especially in Manila and to remove the container vans and allow them access to the piers only at certain hours of the night.
Atienza also suggested to re-orient the training of traffic enforcers by making them fully concerned with freeing traffic flow and not merely to wait for violators to be apprehended for possible extortion.
The former Manila mayor also strongly suggested tapping all mayors and barangay leaders to work together in ensuring the smooth flow of traffic by removing all obstructions in their respective areas of responsibility. He exhorted the mayors to be very strict with construction companies who make use of the sidewalks and even inner streets to store their materials and debris, without even bothering to clean these up after the construction in finished.
All mall owners should also be required to participate in the total effort in ensuring a more efficient traffic flow in areas surrounding their establishments, specially during rush hours.
“We believe that if the national and local government leaders, as well as the motorists themselves work together, we would be able to achieve a smoother flow of traffic in major areas of the country,” Atienza stressed.
