MMDA urges PUV drivers to follow traffic rules

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando has declared war against unruly public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers yesterday, saying it’s time to "outwit" them.

In his radio program on dzBB, Fernando said the MMDA will continue to think of ways to make PUV drivers follow traffic rules and regulations as part of the agency’s effort to solve Metro Manila’s traffic mess.

The MMDA has installed steel barriers along EDSA to force public utility buses (PUBs) to stay on the yellow lane as they load and unload passengers.

PUBs would follow the yellow lane system on weekdays but ignore it on weekends.

It is also experimenting with the steel barriers at the Magallanes Interchange, approaching the southbound lane of EDSA. The outermost lane is devoted to buses while the next lane is used as a taxi bay. This scheme left only three lanes for the rest of the vehicles.

Motorists have, however, complained that the scheme is causing heavy traffic. But Fernando stood his ground and said that since it has been implemented, travel time has actually improved as the barriers forced PUBs to stay on their lane. — Nikko Dizon