MMDA: 436,000 vehicles on EDSA as classes start

MANILA, Philippines — An overcrowded EDSA would usher in the opening of classes next week as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority expects at least 436,000 vehicles to go through the metropolis’ main highway, acting MMDA Chairman Carlo Dimayuga III said yesterday.

Around 387,000 vehicles passed through EDSA on Aug. 4 and the MMDA expects this figure to rise to at least 436,000 when face-to-face classes resume on Monday, according to Dimayuga.

The Aug. 4 figure is based on the latest traffic survey and analysis by the MMDA’s Traffic Engineering Center.

Dimayuga said that the projected figure is higher than the 405,000 vehicles recorded before the start of the pandemic.

He said the number coding scheme will help address the number of vehicles. He assured commuters that it will not affect mass transport since the MMDA will ask the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board and the Department of Transportation to deploy more buses.

He added that they will also send around 2,336 MMDA traffic enforcers to help address the traffic problem.