[sustran] [sustran] no more carless day in Manila

[Craig Townsend]

>From the Manila Times Internet Edition, 6 April 2000

Estrada gets on good side of motorists 

NO more carless day. No more odd-even schemes on Saturdays. 

President Estrada yesterday issued a series of memorandums rejecting the
proposed carless day and suspending the Saturday odd-even scheme being
implemented by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on three major
roads in Metro Manila. 

Mr. Estrada said Saturday is the “only day when salaried workers and
employees can attend to their personal chores” in justifying his order to
scrap the day’s odd-even scheme. 

He issued the order in a memorandum addressed to Transportation Secretary
Vicente Rivera, MMDA Chair Jejomar Binay, Land Transportation Office Asst.
Secretary Benjamin Calima, and Land Transportation Franchising and
Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chair Dante Lantin. 

The Saturday scheme is being implemented along Ramon Magsaysay Blvd. from
Nagtahan all the way to Katipunan Ave. in Quezon City; in Edsa from
Kamuning to Pasay Road in Makati City; along Quezon Ave. from Welcome
Rotonda up to Quezon Memorial Circle from 9 a.m. up to 7 p.m. 

Mr. Estrada also ordered Binay and the three other officials to effect the
arrest of all colorum buses plying major highways, especially along
Epifanio delos Santos Ave. or EDSA, the apprehension of smoke-belching
vehicles in compliance with the Clean Air Act,  and the ban on pedicabs and
motorized tricycles from national roads and highways. 

“Owners of vehicles caught in traffic jams are suffering additional
expenses borne by the increase in gasoline prices,” the President said. 

In another memorandum, the Chief Executive ordered Public Work and Highways
Secretary Gregorio Vigilar to clear all major thoroughfares of all
construction debris. 

“You are hereby ordered to clear major thoroughfares, especially EDSA and
Aurora Blvd., of all construction debris to help improve the traffic in
Metro Manila on a 24-hour work schedule,” he said in the memorandum. 

“You are further ordered to clear all clogged canals, sewer and drainage
adopting a 24-hour work schedule,” it added.¨
-- Mirasol Ng-Gadil

________________________________________________
Craig Townsend
Institute for Sustainability & Technology Policy
Murdoch University
South Street, Murdoch
Perth, Western Australia 6150

tel: (61 8) 9360 6293
fax: (61 8) 9360 6421
email: townsend at central.murdoch.edu.au