MMDA to ban PUJs along Edsa

[Sarsi]

MMDA to ban PUJs along EDSA

By Evelyn Macairan
The Philippine Star 10/04/2004


Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando yesterday said they would strictly ban passenger utility jeepneys (PUJs) from traversing along EDSA to reduce the traffic congestion along the major thoroughfare.

In the agency’s regular Sunday radio program, Fernando said the MMDA would begin removing obstructions along secondary streets to enable PUJs to return to their original routes and decongest the volume of vehicles plying along EDSA.

"Beginning today, we would enforce the law and begin arresting drivers who are not authorized to pass through EDSA," Fernando said.

The only types of public transport allowed along EDSA are buses and taxi units.

Executive Director Angelito Vergel de Dios, MMDA-Traffic Operations Center (TOC), said jeepney drivers who would be caught violating the regulation would be slapped with a fine amounting to P6,000.

"This law has been in existence for a long time but there have been so many reasons in the past why we were unable to implement them as strictly as we would have wanted. Dapat talaga walang (There should really be no) PUJs traversing EDSA. There should be no exemptions because they do not have a franchise," Vergel de Dios added.

He clarified though that the regulation only covers vehicles that are passing along EDSA and not those that would merely cross the major thoroughfare along an intersection to reach the other side.

An example would be PUJs plying the Monumento-Balintawak route. They asked the MMDA to allow them to utilize EDSA because they cannot pass through their original route along 11th Avenue, which was reportedly congested with tricycles, a wet and dry market and posts blocking the way.

But Fernando said they would not give special treatment to any jeepney group "so we would be consistent with our regulations."

Senior Superintendent Philmore Balmaceda, MMDA-Traffic Enforcement Group (TEG) director, was instructed to clear 11th Avenue of obstacles.

PUJ drivers, he added, should fight for their right to use the 11th Avenue and not allow other groups such as tricycles to run them off their route.

5 years ago pa itong thread na ito pero nangyari ba ito? mas dumami pa nga yung jeep dito kasi meron na byaheng munoz- monumento na sa EDSA pa mismo ang terminal

yan ba ang nagpa plano mag presidente puro press release lang din, parang yung amo nyang pandak

[MaxAJ]

5 years ago pa itong thread na ito pero nangyari ba ito? mas dumami pa nga yung jeep dito kasi meron na byaheng munoz- monumento na sa EDSA pa mismo ang terminal

yan ba ang nagpa plano mag presidente puro press release lang din, parang yung amo nyang pandak

bayani fernando should be more hands on than before..

[MaxAJ]

5 years ago pa itong thread na ito pero nangyari ba ito? mas dumami pa nga yung jeep dito kasi meron na byaheng munoz- monumento na sa EDSA pa mismo ang terminal

yan ba ang nagpa plano mag presidente puro press release lang din, parang yung amo nyang pandak

bayani fernando should be more hands on than before..