MMDA leads blessing of EDSA to curb accidents

Manila, Philippines -  Officials of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday led the “blessing” of the 24-kilometer Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) following a recent string of accidents that left several people injured.

“We found out that the entirety of EDSA has not been formally blessed, as far back as when it was still known as Highway 54. So we decided to do it now, hoping that it would somehow lessen the road mishaps,” MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said.

MMDA spokesperson Maria Luwalhati Dorotan said there has been a surprising increase in the number of vehicular accidents recorded along major Metro Manila roads recently.

She said while the MMDA records an average of seven road accidents daily, the figure rose to 40 on Thursday. Minutes before the blessing was held at 6 a.m. yesterday, Dorotan said four accidents were already reported.

“This is now something out of the ordinary,” she said.

Dorotan also defended the EDSA “blessing” and stressed that it was not an exorcism. “The chairman is a very religious man. It was not an exorcism. We are just asking God for blessing and guidance to keep people safe,” she told The STAR.

“There’s nothing bad about asking for divine intervention,” she added.

The blessing, led by Tolentino and Catholic priest Roderick Castro, started at the southbound section of EDSA-Magallanes interchange. Castro led a prayer asking for guidance and protection for motorists and pedestrians.

On Thursday morning, a Cher bus bound for Baclaran, reportedly lost its brakes and slammed into a taxi, triggering a six-vehicle collision at the southbound lane of the EDSA-Magallanes interchange. The incident left a pregnant woman injured.

After blessing the EDSA-Magallanes interchange, Tolentino and other MMDA officials then drove to the Muñoz portion of the highway. Another group, led by general manager Corazon Jimenez, did the same on the northbound lane, from Monumento to EDSA-Taft Avenue.

The MMDA officials stopped and offered prayers at various points of EDSA that recorded a high number of fatal accidents such as the Ayala tunnel in Makati, Buendia, Guadalupe, the Mandaluyong Crossing underpass, and at the Ortigas flyover.

On Wednesday, eight persons were injured after the Baclaran-bound Don Mariano Transit bus crashed into the railings of the EDSA-Ortigas flyover. According to the MMDA, the bus driver, Florencio Biron was allegedly “texting” on his mobile phone when the incident happened.

Tolentino admitted the blessing of EDSA would not stop vehicular accidents from happening.

“(The) MMDA is continuously finding solutions to improve traffic situation in Metro Manila. But the public should also cooperate, road discipline is important. Drivers should always be safety-conscious,” he said.