Cabinet tackles Metro traffic woes

MANILA, Philippines – Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras will meet with concerned Cabinet members this week to draw up a plan to solve the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila.

Speaking to reporters, Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the meeting aims to get inputs from the different government agencies to find a course of action acceptable to all.

Malacañang issued the statement following complaints against the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) following Monday’s seven-hour bottleneck on C-5 Road resulting from a vehicular accident.

Coloma asked the public and the media for more understanding as the two agencies are trying to solve a very complicated problem: easing and regulating or removing illegal public transportation from the streets.

“We have few roads in Metro Manila compared to the number of vehicles on the streets,” he said in Filipino.

“These are two considerations that need to be studied thoroughly to find the best solution.”

Coloma said the national government knows the concern of the Metro Manila Council about the policy adopted by the LTFRB or MMDA to free the highways of traffic gridlock, he added.

“What is important is that both national and local governments are working towards improving the plight of Metro Manila commuters and motorists, and have their welfare as their primary consideration,” he said.

 

Source: http://www.philstar.com/headlines/2014/08/06/1354352/cabinet-tackles-metro-traffic-woes