MMDA reroutes PUVs in bid to ease Marcos Highway traffic

MANILA, Philippines – Starting Wednesday, October 18, public utility vehicles (PUVs) will not be allowed to load and unload passengers in front of Robinsons Metro East and Sta Lucia East Grand Mall along Marcos Highway in Cainta, Rizal.

PUVs now have to turn right leading to a parking lot at Robinsons Metro East to load and unload passengers.

For those going to Antipolo City, PUVs can then turn left to the Marcos Highway exit, just after the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT2) East Extension construction area. Those going to Cainta can head straight to Felix Avenue.

According to Vic Felizardo, operations chief of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Metrobase, the new traffic scheme aims to ease the congestion along the busy highway.

He said they have been receiving a number of complaints about the worsening traffic in that area ever since the construction of the LRT2 East Extension started. 

The construction stretches from Ligaya in Pasig City to Masinag in Antipolo City, leading to lane closures.

Aside from this, obstructions such as commuters spilling over to the streets to wait for a ride also contribute to the heavy traffic.

The MMDA installed barriers to prevent pedestrians from crossing the street and to lead them to the designated area inside the mall property where they should wait for a ride.

Felizardo warned that PUVs caught violating the new traffic scheme will be apprehended.

“We are full force [in] enforcement and will be ready to apprehend any violators,” he said.

Felizardo added that they will look into implementing this kind of scheme in other areas if traffic eases along Marcos Highway. – Rappler.com