After the Metro Manila Council (MMC) banned provincial buses to ply EDSA, one lawmaker is not pleased. According to him, provincial buses are not the cause for traffic. It’s Pokemon Go.
Albay Rep. Joey Salceda said, “Where is the empirical evidence – time-and-motion study of current situation and simulation projections – to underpin as fundamental basis to this policy, which is always the kneejerk first move whenever the issue of Metro Manila traffic is raised?”
He added, “Pokemon Go-playing in private cars pose more threat of aggravation to Metro Manila traffic than provincial buses. Dahan-dahan, may Pikachu dito. Itabi mo sandali, may lures dito.”
Earlier this year, John Forbes, senior advisor of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines, told the Philippine Star that traffic can make Manila uninhabitable by 2020. Last year, Waze confirmed that Metro Manila is reported to have the worst traffic. It also has a negative effect on the economy: it causes the economy to lose P2.4 billion daily.
Presidential Spokesperson Ernesto Abella recently said that the traffic is expected to ease up in the next 100 days. According to him, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade provided a “menu” of options that can be used to solve the problem, including stricter implementation of traffic rules and providing alternative venues to buy transport tickets.
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