Panayam kay Director for Traffic Enforcement Goup Atty. Victor Nunez ng MMDA
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00:00 Traffic congestion at e-tricycles and e-bikes in EDSA.
00:03 We will discuss this with Atty. Victor Nunez,
00:07 Director for Traffic Enforcement Group of Metro Manila Development Authority.
00:11 Atty. Nunez, good afternoon and welcome to Bagong Pilipinas.
00:16 Atty., it seems like your volume is dead.
00:24 We might need to unmute you.
00:26 I'm sorry.
00:27 There, it's good. Okay.
00:29 Sorry. Good afternoon and good afternoon to all of your listeners.
00:35 Okay. Motorists are experiencing heavy traffic here in Metro Manila.
00:41 What are the steps of MMDA to reduce the congestion of our roads today?
00:49 Yes. We all know that we have a lot of priority projects,
00:55 ongoing big projects that contribute to road construction,
01:00 especially the MRT 7 construction in Commonwealth,
01:05 the continuation of the common station in EDSA, SM North, near Trinoma,
01:14 our subway project in Pasig where they will start the boring machine.
01:23 So there are a lot of high-impact projects that will benefit us in the near future.
01:32 Now, we need to apologize because it also adds to the congestion,
01:39 especially the big construction projects.
01:43 Aside from the continuing increase in the volume of vehicles that are being sold from last year, 2022 to 2023,
01:56 the increase of new cars is a huge percentage.
02:02 50 percent of the cars are here in Metro Manila or in neighboring provinces like Cavite, Bulacan, Laguna,
02:12 which are also traversing the main roads here in Metro Manila.
02:18 Of course, the road crash incidents,
02:22 everyday we monitor more than 50 road crash incidents everyday in major thoroughfares,
02:30 it also adds to the traffic, especially if these accidents happen during rush hours.
02:39 Aside from the obvious need for discipline in the roads and motorists,
02:47 and aside from the things that we cannot change, for example, if there is construction,
02:53 what else can you see that you can do or a solution to give priority now
03:00 and reduce the travel time of our fellow citizens here in Metro Manila?
03:08 First of all, if you have a walk, at least give ample time.
03:14 Give a limited time if you have a walk.
03:20 Ahead of time, you should prepare and leave early so you won't be caught up in the traffic flow.
03:28 Most of the people here know the traffic and yet, they are not in a hurry in their preparation for the trip.
03:35 Second, maybe the construction projects that will be added to our road network,
03:44 because we know that in the number of vehicles, our volume now,
03:51 that many vehicles are being sold, most of them are no down payment,
03:56 so it's easy to sell or buy a vehicle, our roads are not being added.
04:02 So our priority projects are a big thing now, infrastructure,
04:07 to add our subway, which will raise the level of mass public transport.
04:19 These are really beneficial in the near future.
04:22 But now, we need to be patient with these ongoing projects because there is a contribution to the congestion of traffic for now.
04:31 Atty. Nunez, you mentioned earlier that there are road repairs in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.
04:40 What are the reasons for the road repairs in Metro Manila,
04:46 particularly here in EDSA, where there is a reason for the traffic, between rush hour.
04:50 If there is, until when and how long will it last?
04:55 Usually, road patching and road repairs are allowed from Friday night up to early morning of Monday.
05:06 Now, we have increased the penalty for the contractors who are building these roads.
05:16 Because sometimes we see that there is a shortage of flagmen and traffic marshals,
05:24 and sometimes they leave their equipment and they don't leave immediately after their road repairs.
05:36 They leave it and they don't get it back immediately.
05:39 With the increase of this penalty, we will instill discipline,
05:46 especially to the contractors who are doing road repairs to our major roads and major thoroughfares.
05:53 Since we are talking about EDSA, there are many e-bikes and e-trikes that are going through EDSA and other major thoroughfares.
06:05 What are the details and the steps of MMDA to fight this?
06:10 Yes ma'am. As you know, last week, we had a meeting with LTO, LTFRB,
06:17 all the heads of the local traffic units of Metro Manila, including DILG.
06:26 Because by next week, in the Metro Manila Council meeting, we will submit the MMC resolution to regulate e-trikes,
06:37 tricycles and kuligligs along national roads.
06:41 It's high time because there are many trending on social media.
06:45 You can see that on South Superhighway, on SLX, e-trikes are allowed.
06:51 We are not discriminating against them. We just need to regulate it.
06:56 Our main aim here is to promote road safety because this kind of vehicles are very dangerous
07:05 that can be seen on national roads and major thoroughfares.
07:11 By next week, hopefully the proposal of the MMDA to the Metro Manila Council regulating with penalty and fines
07:22 on e-trikes, tricycles and kuligligs that travel on national roads will be approved.
07:29 We had a TWG meeting last week and almost all of them were in unison, unanimous,
07:37 and we really want to have the right regulation here with the DOTR, LTO and LTFRB.
07:43 We know that there is no national policy for this.
07:48 But what is the proposed violation that can be imposed on those who use e-bike or e-trikes on major roads?
07:56 Because it's a bit confusing. It looks like a bike but it's not a bike.
08:00 So it can't be on a bike lane. It's not a motorcycle.
08:03 Usually, those who use it don't have a license.
08:08 They are not registered. I can see that they have a strong heart.
08:15 Sometimes, they have three wheels. So it's hard to understand.
08:18 Where will they be classified?
08:20 They don't have a policy.
08:22 So what can be imposed on them?
08:24 There is an actual LTO circular, administrative order passed by LTO 2021-039.
08:36 So in 2021, there are guidelines that LTO issued on the regulation of e-vehicles, e-bikes, e-motorcycles, e-trikes.
08:49 But there is no penalty there. It's just stated where they can go.
08:55 But even if they cannot go, there is no concrete penalty or fine if they go there.
09:07 That's the problem because there's no definitive fine for them.
09:12 It's just stated where they can go and who can bring a license if your e-bike or e-trike has a maximum speed level.
09:23 That's the policy.
09:25 But now, with the recent initiatives, there will be fines and penalties.
09:34 We have enhanced the regulation pertaining to e-trikes, not just only e-trikes, particularly bligs and tricycles.
09:46 Because we are not only seeing e-trikes on national roads, even the tricycles that have DILG memorandum order,
09:55 DILG has a circular that tricycles are prohibited on national roads.
10:00 So for now, sir, to be clear, what are the consequences or the consequences that we can expect
10:09 if we see that these are going through the roads that are not supposed to go through since there are no clear guidelines for this?
10:16 First of all, there will be fine, there will be a proposal but that would be subject to the approval of the Metro Manila mayors.
10:25 We will know that by next week.
10:28 There is also impounding if they brought this, they don't have a license, their tricycle, e-trikes or bligs can be impounded.
10:41 There are levels of first offense, second offense, third offense, fines and penalties regarding this.
10:50 This will all be tackled and finalized in our next Metro Manila Council meeting composed of the Metro Manila mayors next week.
10:59 It's good news that the MMDA, LTO and LTFRB will be able to determine this because practically,
11:07 these three bodies need to help each other to make a decision on this and to register the e-bikes and e-trikes that are now going around Metro Manila
11:17 just like a regular motorcycle or vehicle because this is a new vehicle that is going around the road.
11:28 They are moving around.
11:30 It's also dangerous.
11:31 Sometimes I see that there are children in the middle without helmets or they are in the major roads.
11:38 Of course, your enemy is the big vehicles.
11:41 That should be at least, there are rules or there should be some rules to follow on the road.
11:47 It's good to talk about how this will be regulated but maybe in your discussion, there will be regulations on this.
11:58 Definitely ma'am.
12:00 Actually, there are certain LGUs in Metro Manila that have an ordinance existing even prior to the pandemic in 2019,
12:10 there are LGUs that have ordinances.
12:15 It's also part of the provisions that we considered.
12:20 There are LGUs that are not yet there and they are still working on it.
12:27 They said that after we issue the Metro Manila Council Resolution, they will base their ordinances on that when we issue it.
12:37 They will pattern their ordinance regarding e-trikes and tricycles when it is issued and approved by the Metro Manila Council.
12:46 Okay. Maybe Atty. Victor will come back to give an update on e-bikes and e-trikes.
12:53 But in the meantime, maybe you have a message for our motorists.
12:58 Yes, as you know, our clearing operations along Mabuhay Lanes and the major toro fairs in Metro Manila are still continuous.
13:11 Reminder to those who like to illegally park, make sure that you park your vehicles on the right path because it also adds to traffic congestion.
13:27 We recommend that you use alternative routes like Mabuhay Lane, if it's not free and there are many illegal parks,
13:36 use alternative routes so that our major roads will not be congested.
13:42 So hopefully, we should be disciplined so that we can be controlled on the roads. Thank you very much.
13:52 Okay. Thank you very much, Atty. Victor Nunez, Director for Traffic Enforcement Group of MMDA.