Traffic snarls in España, Rizal Avenue feared

Motorists in Manila may experience a great deal of traffic problems during the next few months because of the destruction of several of its traffic lights last Tuesday, officials said.

The angry mob of supporters of deposed President Joseph Estrada vented their ire on cars, buildings as well as traffic lights during their protest march to Mendiola last May 1.

While the crowd dispersal units of the Philippine National Police and the Armed Forces of the Philippines slowly evicted the protesters from Mendiola, the mob managed to destroy most of the traffic lights located along the main roads while retreating.

Affected areas include the busy intersections of Claro M. Recto, España, Mendiola and Rizal Avenue.

The Estrada supporters reportedly climbed the posts that were holding up the traffic lights and took them down or simply hurled rocks and other hard objects, shattering the lights on the spot.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Traffic Operations Center deputy director Eduardo Flores said that all of the destroyed traffic lights would have to be replaced completely.

Repairing the lights would be costly, if not entirely futile, because of the unavailability of spare parts, he said.

"Since most of these traffic signal lights are antiquated, we will have a hard time fixing them," Flores added.

He added that they would have to import the spare parts from abroad in order to repair the busted lights so purchasing new, complete units would be more efficient.

The MMDA is in charge of the maintenance of all traffic lights within the metropolis even though its operation is under the jurisdiction of the Traffic Engineering Center of the Department of Public Works and Highways. – Marvin Sy