(Eagle News)—Senator Grace Poe on Thursday, Aug. 9, stressed the importance of clearing Edsa’s alternate routes before a single-driver vehicle ban is implemented on the major thoroughfare during rush hours.
“Unless you can guarantee na ang mga illegally parked vehicles dun sa Mabuhay Lanes ay tatanggalin ninyo at malilinis ninyo in coordination with local governments, huwag kayong basta-basta magsasabi na hindi na puwedeng dumaan sa EDSA. Dapat in coordination ‘yan [with local governments]. Malinis na ba ang side routes na daraanan?” the senator, who also chairs the Senate committee on public services, said.
According to Poe, the MMDA, in coordination with local government units, should also hold a dry run of the ban “and study and publish a clear set of guidelines before implementing the plan.”
She noted that at least 60 percent of drivers traversing EDSA will be affected once the scheme is implemented.
“Kasi hindi puwedeng unilateral at sasabihing ‘o ngayon ganito na.’ Magkaroon muna ng trial period tapos tingnan natin kung ito ba’y magiging epektibo,” she said.
“Wag padalos dalos,” she added.
The MMDA has said that it was eyeing a dry run of the ban next week.