MANILA, Philippines – On a clear day, with school still out, traffic crawls along the northbound lane of Roxas Boulevard, especially from Pasay City to Manila.
Motorists interviewed by The STAR want to know why. Traffic officials are blaming defective traffic lights and the Metro Manila Development Authority. Janet Que, computer operator at the MMDA’s Traffic Operations Center, said the traffic lights were synchronized as of 5 p.m. yesterday.
MMDA general manager Robert Nacianceno, however, said the sheer volume of vehicles cruising Roxas Boulevard slows down traffic.
Superintendent Roberto de la Rosa of the Manila Police District’s traffic office said they have asked the MMDA’s Traffic Engineering Center to replace or improve the synchronization of traffic lights particularly from the United States embassy up to P. Burgos Drive in Ermita, Manila.
Irate motorists told The STAR that during the morning rush hour, it could take up to two hours to negotiate the few kilometers from Baclaran in Parañaque City to P. Burgos, even when there is no flooding, heavy rain or vehicular accident.
Traffic is stalled particularly around the US embassy, where there are three stoplights within a few meters of each other.
Right in front of the main entrance to the embassy is an opening where a prominent sign prohibiting U-turns is ignored by motorists, with no traffic officials apprehending violators.
De la Rosa said he had deployed three traffic policemen at every traffic-prone spot on Roxas Boulevard, but this has not been enough to speed up traffic flow.
In Pasay City, pedicabs along the boulevard further slow down traffic. – Nestor Etolle, Mike Frialde