Court stops Alabang traffic scheme

MANILA, Philippines - A 20-day temporary restraining order (TRO) was issued against a color-coding scheme that is set to be implemented next week at a posh subdivision in Muntinlupa City.

During an assembly of parents and guardians at the De la Salle Santiago-Zobel last night, school president Bernie Oca said a Muntinlupa court granted their request for a TRO against the traffic scheme to be implemented by the Ayala Alabang Village Association (AAVA).

“That’s a great relief,” Oca told the parents who attended the meeting.

“It’s not yet over. That’s why this assembly is very important. We’re only given 20 days, the legal work continues,” he added.

Oca said that while the “chaos” that everyone foresaw on the supposed implementation of the traffic scheme will not happen on Feb. 2, an injunction is still needed to completely stop the policy.

Earlier, the DLSZ community expressed its disapproval of the color coding policy that will be implemented in the village.

In a letter to Oca, AAVA president Epifanio Joaquin said the worsening traffic condition caused by cars ferrying students to the school pushed them to implement the policy.

“The root cause of the traffic problem has been identified: it is the increased number of students enrolled in DLSZ who are not residents of Ayala Alabang Village, without foresight or regard for the ensuing traffic and pollution implications that would be created,” said Joaquin.

“Despite the implementation of a busing system and the so-called ‘efforts’ of DLSZ to encourage students to carpool, the number of vehicles has recently increased to 1,787. The problem has actually worsened,” he added.

Under the proposed scheme, the AAVA will issue either green or white stickers to non-residents of the village.

Those with green stickers are allowed to enter the village only on Tuesdays and Thursdays, while those issued white stickers will be allowed on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Oca, however, said the school has been implementing measures to address the traffic situation in the village.