President Marcos is not keen on approving the proposal to charge private motor vehicles that will be entering the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) during the presentation of strategies under the Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) in Metro Manila.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chairman Don Artes said the idea that was presented is to duplicate the congestion charge being implemented in Singapore by using toll fee like infrastructure at the entry points of EDSA.

“But the President himself said that it would only be possible if there would be alternatives, if the mass transport system is efficient because if we don’t the public the alternative and that the commuters have to undergo long queues in public transport, then its implementation is not timely,” said Artes.

Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla earlier disclosed the plan to charge private vehicles using EDSA as part of the measure to ease monstrous traffic jams in Metro Manila.

But Artes said it was just a proposal and will not likely happen anytime soon as there are still questions that need to be clarified, such as whether or not the policy would only cover non-residents of Metro Manila, and how the vehicle owners would be charged.

“This will still undergo a very long process. Although I understand that Baguio City was also thinking of that proposal,” said Artes.

“Maybe we should wait for its implementation in Baguio and let’s study it,” he added.

Artes said the proposal to charge private vehicle using EDSA, like in Singapore, is aimed at encouraging the use of the mass transport system.

The vehicle capacity of EDSA is 250,000 per day but currently, Artes said it is already at 470,000 per day.  

Mass transport system along EDSA, particularly the Metro Rail Transit-3, is still inefficient according to experts as commuters have to bear long queues every day, especially during rush hours.

And in the absence of such efficiency as pointed out by the President, Artes said it will take time before such a proposal would be considered to be implemented.