MMDA: 464,000 vehicles ply EDSA daily amid holiday rush
The holiday rush is real.
About 464,000 vehicles are traveling along EDSA daily this December, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes said.
"[This] is way beyond almost double na ng carrying capacity ng EDSA which is 250,000," Artes told DWPM Radyo 630 on Dec. 9.
The bulk of the vehicles, he said, are usually seen during rush hours of 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
He added that the volume of vehicles along the highway could increase this week as it's payday weekend and people are still doing Christmas shopping.
"Kaya po tayo nananawagan sa mga kababayan na planuhing mabuti sana natin 'yung ating pagbiyahe lalo na this weekend," Artes added.
On Dec. 5, the MMDA announced it would prohibit mall-wide sales in Metro Manila this month to curb heavy traffic. This move was met with protests from the country's largest retailers.
"Napakarami nating malls na nasa EDSA, C5 na major thoroughfares na pagnababarahan po natin, nag-cause ng major traffic. Hindi natin ipinagbabawal ang sale, huwag lang mall-wide. Kasi 'pag mall-wide, dinudumog talaga ng napakaraming tao," Artes said.
To ease holiday traffic, the MMDA deployed additional personnel to manage traffic flow. It is also conducting regular clearing operations along Mabuhay lanes.
Meanwhile, Land Transportation Office chief Vigor Mendoza II ordered LTO personnel to intensify road visibility.
In October, the MMDA said it would be lenient with minor traffic violators for the holidays as it focuses on managing traffic.
Metro Manila was among the 387 metro areas with the worst traffic congestion in the world in 2023. This was according to TomTom, a multinational traffic data provider and location technology specialist, which defined a metro area as "a circle covering the city and rural areas in close proximity."
The 2023 TomTom Traffic Index revealed that local motorists in Manila spent an average travel time of 25 minutes and 30 seconds per 10 kilometers last year. This is 50 seconds longer than it took to cover the same distance in 2022.
