Metro mayors shelve odd-even scheme

MANILA, Philippines - Metro Manila’s mayors, acting as members of the Metro Manila Council, shelved yesterday the proposed revival of the odd-even scheme as a measure to ease traffic along EDSA.

The council, the policy-making body of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, “decided to shelve the (proposed) odd-even scheme,” MMDA Chairman Francisco Tolentino told reporters. “We are abiding by this decision because this is part of our consultation with the public (about the proposal).”

During a meeting at the Quezon City Hall yesterday, the council also created a “special traffic committee” to study ways to address traffic jams along EDSA.

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista has been tasked to chair the special committee. He said they hope to come up with a comprehensive traffic management plan for EDSA.

One of the things the special traffic committee will do is to coordinate with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board on the issuance of franchises for buses.

According to Bautista, the proposed odd-even scheme needs further study. Like Bautista, Mandaluyong City Mayor Benhur Abalos said there are other solutions to the EDSA traffic problem.

Abalos said law enforcement agencies should go after “colorum” public utility vehicles. He added that the number of traffic enforcers should even be increased.

“It’s (odd-even scheme) not the only solution… We can look into other things,” Caloocan City Mayor Enrico Echverri added.

According to Abalos, the decision to ease traffic along EDSA should not be through a “knee-jerk reaction.” He believes the revival of the odd-even scheme is an “extreme option” to address this problem.

Before yesterday’s meeting, the MMDA earlier planned to revive the odd-even scheme for vehicles going through EDSA on Nov. 15. Vehicles with plates ending in odd numbers would not be allowed on EDSA on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while those with plates ending in even numbers would be banned on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.