Officials blame thieves, rain for Roxas Blvd traffic

The Manila Police District Traffic Enforcement Unit (MPDTEU) is looking into three factors behind the heavy traffic along Roxas Boulevard, particularly from Quirino to Kalaw Avenues.

MPDTEU chief Superintendent Roberto dela Rosa personally went to the office of the Traffic Engineering Center (TEC) yesterday to get to the bottom of the defective lights.

“It seems that three factors caused the malfunctioning traffic lights. Thieves reportedly cutoff electrical connections to the traffic lights system to get the copper wire. There were also those who use jumpers to tap on its electrical supply. The heavy downpour during the past few weeks also contributed to the problem,” said Traffic Aide 3 Ricardito Carpio.

Yesterday, motorists were again stuck in traffic along Roxas Boulevard for about an hour from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. The tail end of the traffic in the northbound direction even reached the flyover.

The MPDTEU personnel, assisted by traffic aides from the Manila City Hall and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority have been manually directing the flow of traffic.

Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim earlier blamed the thieves who steal electrical wires connected to traffic lights and streetlamps along Roxas Boulevard for the darkness and traffic woes that have been plaguing motorists for the past weeks. The wires contain copper, which can be melted down and used for other electronic equipment.

The thefts have “prompted us to shut down the electricity in some areas along the Baywalk because it could be dangerous to those walking in the area. They could step on or touch a dangling live wire,” Lim said.

Police have apprehended three copper wire thieves so far.   – Evelyn Macairan