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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider Keeping Metro Manila moving this Christmas

Keeping Metro Manila moving this Christmas

Published Dec 19, 2024 04:53 pm

METRO MATTERS

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Christmas is here, bringing with it the traditions we Filipinos cherish most: shopping for gifts for our loved ones, celebrations, and get-togethers. Yet, alongside the joy of the season comes a familiar challenge that tests our patience — traffic congestion.


Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare, EDSA, carries an average of 421,000 vehicles every day along its 23.8-kilometer stretch. During the holidays, this number increases by as much as 15 percent, making it feel like what commuters call a “carmaggedon” or “carpocalypse.”


The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Metro Manila Council (MMC) are taking this challenge head-on. Since October, we have worked closely with stakeholders to address the holiday gridlock. Road excavations, except for emergencies, have been banned until Dec. 25. Mall hours have been adjusted to 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. to ease pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Deliveries are confined to late in the evening to early in the morning, and mall-wide sales that often cause crowd surges are no longer permitted.


Public transportation remains a priority. The MMDA has requested extended operating hours for the EDSA Bus Carousel, MRT, and LRT to assist commuters traveling late into the night. Meanwhile, alternative routes like the Mabuhay Lanes are being utilized, with strict enforcement of no-parking rules. One of the measures implemented by the MMDA through the Metro Manila Council is the adjustment of traffic enforcers’ working hours. Previously from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., their shift is now extended from 6 a.m. to 12 midnight. 


While we have systems in place, every one of us has a role to play in ensuring smooth and safe travels this season. Simple decisions make all the difference like planning trips ahead, following traffic rules, parking only in designated areas, and ensuring vehicles are roadworthy. Most importantly, let us keep safety a priority. Drunk driving should have no place in our celebrations. It is not only against the law, but it endangers lives, including your own.


In San Juan, we are leading by example. At the Greenhills Shopping Center, a favorite holiday destination, we have worked hard to enhance the shopping experience while keeping traffic manageable. Christmas bazaars at the Pinaglabanan Shrine are festive yet organized, with illegal parking and double parking strictly addressed. Our police and traffic enforcers are highly visible to ensure safety and order for both shoppers and motorists.


This season is about family, joy, and togetherness, and we cannot allow gridlock or carelessness to spoil it. As we celebrate, let us practice patience, discipline, and courtesy toward one another. These small efforts will keep our roads moving and our celebrations truly meaningful.


From San Juan to every city across the Philippines, I wish every Filipino a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year ahead. Together, let us celebrate responsibly and ensure that this season remains one of joy for everyone.

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