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NewsTranscript
00:00Let's update on the traffic situation here in Metro Manila six days before Christmas.
00:04Let's talk to the Director for Traffic Enforcement Group of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority,
00:09Atty. Vic Nunez.
00:11Welcome to Balitang Hali, Atty.
00:14Yes, good afternoon, Sir Rafi, and good afternoon to all of your viewers.
00:19Yes, it's the last weekend before Christmas.
00:21How is the traffic in the main roads here in Metro Manila?
00:25Yes, Sir Rafi, we're expecting this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday,
00:31the volume of vehicles will increase.
00:36And this is the time when many will return to their provinces.
00:43The piers, provincial bus terminals, and even airports are already full.
00:50So, we're expecting that.
00:53And the next few days, Christmas parties will be held in different places.
01:00In your observation, at what time does the traffic in the main roads become heavy?
01:07Actually, there are light hours, especially in the morning.
01:11But the peak of traffic wherein the volume of vehicles is really high,
01:16it would start at 4 p.m. until 9 to 10 p.m.
01:22Especially in the major toro fairs along EDSA, C5, Commonwealth.
01:26Are the busy lanes still effective?
01:29Yes, it's very efficient because every day we're clearing those alternate roads
01:36so that our major roads won't become too heavy.
01:43That's why our Special Operations Group,
01:46every day, from morning to afternoon,
01:49they operate here to encourage our motorists and our fellow countrymen
01:54to use these alternate roads, the busy lanes.
02:00Because most of these busy lanes are leading to big malls all over Manila,
02:05from Pasay, Paranaque, up to Quezon City.
02:08So, if they know where the busy lanes are,
02:13we're clearing them every day so that it will be more helpful for them.
02:17Why is the suspension of the Expanded Number Coding Scheme only for certain days?
02:22Well, as a matter of policy,
02:24MMDA would lift the UVVRP on regular holidays or special holidays.
02:32For December 24, 25, December 30, and 31,
02:37including January 1,
02:40that's what we chose because these dates are declared holidays.
02:45And it's hard because if we lift that,
02:49it won't be a holiday because we're also expecting December 22, 23, and 26,
02:55back to the provinces or returning to the provinces.
02:59It will add to the congestion of traffic
03:04if we lift the Number Coding Scheme for these days.
03:10That's why the chairman, Chairman Don Artes,
03:12this is our policy.
03:14This is what our agency declared that the coding is lifted for these 5 days.
03:20Yes. Are there other ways that you're looking at
03:22to help with the expansion of the traffic lanes during these times?
03:26Do you encourage commuting to our fellow countrymen,
03:29especially those who only pass through major thoroughfares?
03:31Yes. We can see that a lot of people are already waiting for the bus carousel
03:38along EDSA, MRT, and LRT because it's still faster.
03:43That's why we can see that those who are waiting for the bus carousel
03:50have to wait for a long time because that's still the fastest way for our public to ride.
04:02So we're encouraging them, instead of using private vehicles,
04:07to use LRT, MRT, and EDSA bus carousel.
04:13But it's really coming out, the TSTs first in the coming 4 days
04:16because it's expected that the traffic will increase.
04:19Yes, Sir Rafi. That's why we're appealing.
04:22If you can't avoid bringing a vehicle, please plan your travels ahead of time
04:29and make sure that your cars, the vehicles that you're going to use are roadworthy
04:36because the vehicles that are being destroyed are still in the way of our roads.
04:44We have a lot of incidents that are being monitored, a lot of stored vehicles in major thoroughfares
04:49that also leads to added traffic jam and congestion.
04:53So make sure that all your vehicles, especially those that are going out of the provinces,
04:59make sure that they're in good condition.
05:02Thank you very much for your time this afternoon.
05:05Thank you very much, Sir Rafi, and good morning.
05:09This is Atty. Vic Nunez of MMDA.
05:13Music
05:17.