Miriam blames LTFRB for Metro Manila traffic

MANILA, Philippines - Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago wants to investigate the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for its recent memorandum circulars and a resolution that are supposedly causing traffic gridlock in parts of Metro Manila.

Santiago was referring to Memorandum Circular Numbers 2014-009, which temporarily suspended operations against colorum buses and out-of-line operations; and 2014-010, which allowed public utility buses to modify their routes and pass through major thoroughfares, such as EDSA, from June 19 to October 17.

"I'm calling for a Senate investigation on these LTFRB issuances because they prejudice public transport safety to benefit only a few. It seems that these issuances violate the Aquino administration's policies for economic development," Santiago said in a statement on Monday.

The senator said the suspension of operations against the colorum buses would only legalize and spur the proliferation of unauthorized vehicles.

She added that the legalization of out-of-line routes violate existing laws in land transportation.

"These issuances also defeat the purpose of the establishment of the Integrated Transport System to decongest traffic in Metro Manila and to restrict provincial buses and other unauthorized public utility vehicles from entering EDSA," Santiago said a resolution she filed today.

Santiago said the LTFRB issuances completely disregard numerous studies which say that the country is losing P153 billion yearly because of traffic congestion.

'No Apprehension Policy' of unregistered trucks-for-hire

Santiago is also questioning LTFRB's Board Resolution No. 5, which extended the "No Apprehension Policy" of trucks-for-hire freight services with green plates from July 29 to August 29.

"LTFRB's logic escapes me. Allowing these trucks to ply our roads when they are still securing the necessary paperwork in the name of trade and commerce is a flimsy excuse. This is LTFRB' failing in their basic regulatory functions," Santiago said.

She also claimed that based on the LFTRB resolution, the agency only consulted with the business sector and trucking companies.

"Had they consulted with motorists and commuters, the Metro Manila traffic situation could have been different," the senator said.

The senator cited studies that the LTFRB's "No Apprehension policy" increased travel time and decreased travel speed in both lanes in the Commonwealth Avenue-South Superhighway route.

In the southbound lane of the same route, travel time suffered a 73.6-percent increase, while the travel speed slowed to down 41 percent.

The studies also found that, compared with data from June 2013, the "No Apprehension Policy" increased truck volume in Katipunan Avenue by 80.67 percent, C5-Bagong Ilog by 60.52 percent, and C5-McKinley Hill by 33.07 percent.

"Together with the LTFRB's memorandum circulars, this board resolution is wreaking havoc on the daily lives of commuters and motorists," Santiago said. -Louis Bacani