MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED) The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has postponed the EDSA road-sharing event originally slated for Sunday, June 28.

An official June 26 advisory posted on the agency’s Facebook and Twitter accounts says it recommends the deferrment of the event to a “later date” because of the following reasons:

1. An SM Mall of Asia fun run is also taking place that day

2. Road-blocking and repairs on EDSA by the Department of Public Works and Highways

3. Administrative difficulties within MMDA

4. Lack of a widespread public information campaign

5. Weekend mall sales along EDSA

The decision is to give the Share the Road movement and other stakeholders more time and resources to “ensure the success of the activity if it is to be rescheduled.”

The announcement came two days before the target date of the road-sharing scheme which intended to use two EDSA lanes, both on the north- and south-bound side for pedestrians and bikers.

The scheme would limit city and provincial buses and private vehicles to 3 out of 5 lanes.

The scheme was met with mixed reactions from netizens.

Possible ‘dry run’

Share the Road Movement, led by renowned environmental lawyer Antonio Oposa Jr, confirmed to Rappler that the event has been postponed.

The day before the announcement of the postponement, Paulo Burro, Oposa’s assistant, told Rappler that the MMDA had initially agreed only to modifications of the experiment.

A June 25 meeting between the group and the MMDA concluded with a decision to shorten the route. From the original SM MOA-to-Ortigas, the route was shortened to SM MOA-Magallanes.

The time for the activity was also changed from 12:00 am to 11:59 pm originally to 6 am to 6 pm.

The walk lane was taken out while one more lane exclusive to private vehicles was added.

Burro admitted that it was the public’s mixed reactions to the original plan that led to the changes.

But Burro says the Share the Road Movement and other supporting groups still plan to conduct a “dry run” on June 28.

The dry run will include the original EDSA bike lane but it will stretch only the northbound EDSA lane right before SM MOA and in front of the Heritage Hotel, also known as the Magallanes Interchange.

The dry run will be conducted only from 6 am to 12 noon, according to a press release sent by the Share the Road Movement.

MMDA has agreed to provide cones to demarcate the lanes for buses, private cars, and cyclists, according to the press release. MMDA personnel will also be deployed to enforce the scheme. – Rappler.com 

What do you think of the MMDA’s decision to postpone the EDSA road-sharing event? Share your insights through our comments section below.