Heavy traffic is seen along EDSA in Pasay City. (File photo by RICHARD REYES / Philippine Daily Inquirer)
MANILA, Philippines — Drivers of four-wheeled vehicles in Metro Manila may eventually have to pay a fee to use the perennially congested Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa).
Interior Secretary Jonvic Remulla believes this will encourage vehicle owners to try public transportation.
Article continues after this advertisementRemulla said the plan was tackled during the meeting on the Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) for Metro Manila and nearby provinces led by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Tuesday.
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The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) chief stressed, however, that this situation would only be put in place once the CTMP for Edsa could be fully implemented.
Shanghai closed up 1.2 percent and Hong Kong advanced 0.7 percent after both markets surged more than four percent Tuesday following a slew of Chinese interest-rate cuts this week.
The market’s decline came after entering a 31-month high as the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas announced a lower cash buffer requirement for banks.
Article continues after this advertisement“We are thoroughly studying that. Perhaps there will be a metering system through AI,” Remulla said in Filipino over radio dwPM when asked how the government can encourage car owners to use public transportation.
Article continues after this advertisement“There will be a charge if the trains are all fixed, and the entire system is fixed,” he went on. “There will be a metering system within Metro Manila to encourage the public to use public transportation.”
mbo303 slot Article continues after this advertisementAsked if this meant that four-wheeled motorists would pay to use Edsa, similar to a system in other countries, Remulla said: “Yes. So it becomes a privilege, not a right. The road will become anti-cars.”
He noted that 17 percent of the people use 80 percent of the roads in Metro Manila.
Article continues after this advertisement“But the first order of the day is that public transportation should be efficient, reliable, and comfortable. That will be prioritized,” he said.
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