GRAB PHILIPPINES (MyTaxi.PH, Inc.) said it is holding discussions with authorities regarding the impact of the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) traffic scheme, which prohibits driver-only vehicles from plying main thoroughfare EDSA during peak hours, to its ride-hailing business.
“Grab Philippines has initiated dialogues with the authorities and regulators as we seek clarity on the new High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) traffic scheme. Key Transport Network Vehicle Service (TNVS) leaders participated in the discussions to make sure that legitimate concerns of TNVS community were well-represented,” the company said in a statement on Thursday.
The company said it is an advocate for “shared mobility,” but noted that it hopes policy makers would listen to their concerns and see it “as an important consideration in imposing new rules and regulations.”
In the meantime, the transport network company is urging its customers to avoid trips that assign pick-up and drop-off points along EDSA.
Senate leaders earlier denounced the HOV scheme, citing the absence of public consultations and lack of solid data indicating that the policy would ease traffic congestion.
Another lawmaker from the House of Representative yesterday said the HOV policy, being implemented by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), is a temporary solution and does not address the bigger traffic problem in the capital.
“If we are implementing that HOV… We are clearing EDSA of traffic but again we are also creating traffic in other areas,” House transportation committee chair Cesar V. Sarmiento told reporters in an interview.
He said the best answer to traffic congestion would be an efficient mass transport system.
Panel Vice-chair Edgar Mary S. Sarmiento also said enhancing the bus dispatch system is a better solution.
“(The MMDA) should first consider synchronizing the flow of buses plying Metro Manila’s most important highway,” the Samar solon said in a statement issued Thursday.
“If you look at the present system, buses practically occupy two to four lanes in certain portions of EDSA creating chokepoints thereby causing domino effect on the traffic situation,” he said. “If you ask me, it’s the buses that are really causing the traffic in EDSA.”
FRANCHISE
Meanwhile, at a meeting of the House committee on transportation’s technical working group, Marikina Representative Bayani F. Fernando suggested that operators of all ‘colorum’ vehicles, or those without a license to run as public transport, be given amnesty as well as a franchise.
“Alisin natin ‘yung pinakamalaking balakid — ‘yung ‘colorum’… bigyan na lamang ng amnesty ang lahat, bigyan ng prangkisa ang lahat ng namamasada riyan (Let’s remove the biggest stumbling block — the ‘colorum,’ let’s give all of them amnesty and franchise),” Mr. Fernando, a former Metro Manila Development Authority chair, told reporters in an interview Thursday.
He said legalizing ‘colorum’ vehicles is the “best measure for road capacity,” noting that these continue to thrive due to passenger demand.
Mr. Fernando added that in exchange for the amnesty program, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) should impose “draconian measures” such as immediately destroying ‘colorum’ vehicles caught after the amnesty period.
Committee member Rozzano Rufino B. Biazon, however, said “enforcement against ‘colorum’ should be heightened if we are to consider amnesty.” — Denise A. Valdez and Charmaine A. Tadalan

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