HPG to go beyond 6 chokepoints on EDSA

MANILA, Philippines - The police Highway Patrol Group (HPG) is going beyond the six chokepoints of EDSA to untangle traffic jams along the 23-kilometer highway.

Sr. Supt. Sheldon Jacaban said there are now more than 200 HPG troops manning the stretch of EDSA, aside from the six chokepoints of Balintawak, Cubao, Ortigas, Shaw Boulevard, Guadalupe and Pasay Rotonda.

“What we are doing is to look for the vehicles buildup, then we correct, to address the traffic situation,” Jacaban said.

“Traffic congestion in Trinoma and Kamuning in Quezon City affects the flow of traffic all the way to Buendia, Makati. So to correct that, we deploy our HG beyond the chokepoints,” he said.

Jacaban said they have started issuing temporary operators permit (TOP) to erring drivers.

He said most of the violations involved counterflow, buses veering out of the yellow lane and obstruction.

Jacaban said a police officer and a military sergeant were among 15 drivers caught violating traffic at the intersection of Santolan and EDSA.

Jacaban warned drivers with TOPs to redeem their licenses within 72 hours.

HPG spokesman Supt. Oliver Tanseco said if a driver is given an LTO-TOP, he can still drive home but can only use the ticket for 72 hours, meaning after that period, you can no longer drive a motor vehicle because that is again another violation and another penalty and could lead to impoundment of vehicle.

Tanseco said a driver issued a TOP is required to attend a seminar and pay a fine.

Tanseco added the management of several malls located along EDSA started coordinating with the HPG on their schedule of sales.

He said the interagency task force headed by Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Almendras has started talks with the De La Salle University in Greenhills, San Juan where traffic buildup usually occurs due to vehicles conveying and fetching students.

“I believe we have made it clear that our intention is to make all roads free of obstruction. Drivers can load and unload near the school but they should not park along the highway,” Tanseco said.

“The eyes are on us. Let us do our own share, let us observe the loading and unloading zone. Drivers can only load and unload on the first lane, nearest the gutter. Staying on the fast lane might also endanger the lives of our children,” he added.

‘A work in progress’ 

Malacañang yesterday said full efforts are underway to solve the traffic problem in Metro Manila, particularly in EDSA.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda said the efforts to solve the traffic problem on a daily basis would make the public realize the solution was a “work in progress.”

“It’s a daily work-in-progress effort to improve the flow of traffic and it’s a concern for Metro Manila motorists, especially those traveling the EDSA highway,” he said.

“And that’s the reason why as early as now, recognizing the number of vehicles on the streets, the number of constructions, infrastructure improvements that we are doing right now, we are trying to make sure that we are able… to make the traffic situation better than where it was several days ago,” Lacierda said.

Lacierda though conceded the traffic problem could be exploited as a campaign issue.

He said it could be expected of some people to use the issue against the administration, but they should also take caution with the fact that government agencies like the HPG were doing a major effort in improving the flow of traffic in EDSA.

“This is not a political issue as far as the government is concerned. This is a major concern for the motorists and we want to make sure that this issue of traffic will be solved on a daily basis, making improvements in the whole system, and that is why it’s a work in progress,” he said.

Lacierda said the HPG is looking into ways to improve the flow of traffic, especially in EDSA.

“And that means also ensuring that the collateral streets, the peripheral streets are also cleared of certain traffic, so that vehicles may be able to use alternate routes other than EDSA. We hope also that the infrastructure improvements that we are doing will be hastened,” he said.

Lacierda cited, for instance, the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway Connector Road that would significantly improve traffic flow “north to the south” and vice versa. – With Aurea Calica, Paolo Romero, Mike Frialde, Perseus Echeminada, Robertzon Ramirez