MMDA to probe shuttle bus driver over bus lane violation
Aileen Cerrudo • June 23, 2020 • 965
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will investigate the shuttle bus driver who forcefully entered the bus lane route.
As seen in the CCTV footage, the military escorts accompanying the bus driver took out the concrete barriers in order for the shuttle bus to enter the bus lane.
“Wala naman tayong entry point doon and yet pinilit niyang pumasok. Ginamit pa niya iyong military escorts niya na i-move ang barrier para magkasya siya (We don’t have an entry point there and yet he still attempted to enter. He even had his military escorts to move the barriers for his shuttle bus to fit and get through),” according to MMDA EDSA Traffic Chief Edison ‘Bong’ Nebrija.
The MMDA already issued a ticket for the said violation but Nebrija said they want to conduct further investigation to determine if the shuttle bus driver received any instructions that they can ply through the bus lane.
“Hindi ko alam kung kaninong instruction nila nakuha iyan na pwede sila dyan sa bus way natin. Hindi nga pwede (I don’t know where they got that instruction that they can enter the busway. They are not allowed),” he said.
The MMDA reiterated that bus lanes are only reserved for city buses, and other vehicles are not allowed.
Meanwhile, the Joint Task Force of the National Capital Region will investigate the military escort that moved the concrete barriers. —AAC(with reports from Joan Nano)
MANILA, Philippines—Truck ban in areas under Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ) is temporarily suspended, according to Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
In a Twitter post, the agency announced that truck ban is suspended along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila. This is to ensure the deliveries of essential goods in areas under ECQ will be unhampered.
The MMDA, however, clarified that total truck ban is still implemented along EDSA.
ADVISORY: MMDA’s enforcement of truck ban is suspended along major thoroughfares in Metro Manila to ensure unhampered movement of essential goods during the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine (ECQ).#mmda#mmdaatyourservicepic.twitter.com/ZneiGHHcpo
MANILA, Philippines – Operations of the Pasig River Ferry Service will be temporarily suspended from April 1 to April 4, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.
In a statement, the MMDA said normal operations will resume on Monday, April 5.
“Meanwhile, as Metro Manila is under enhanced community quarantine, the ferry service will be implementing 50% seating capacity,” the agency said.
All Authorized Persons Outside Residence (APOR) are allowed to ride the ferry service, provided they bring an identification card.
The national government placed the National Capital Region (NCR) and nearby provinces of Cavite, Bulacan, Rizal, and Laguna under ECQ from March 29 to April 4 in a bid to arrest the surge in COVID-19 cases.
MANILA, Philippines — Chairman Benhur Abalos Jr. of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the new COVID-19 variants may be blamed for the surge of positive cases in the country especially in Metro Manila.
He said quarantine restrictions at present are similar to those imposed during the early days of the pandemic, but the spread of COVID-19 has been very swift even in other countries.
“Sana nga lang kung ganito kabilis makahawa, iyon na lang effect niya sa mortality o sa severity, huwag na lang sanang ganoon katindi,” Abalos said.
Given the spike in COVID-19 cases, Abalos said local government units have agreed to religiously impose contact tracing, testing and isolation of suspected and confirmed cases of COVID-19.
One effective measure, he said, is the implementation of granular lockdowns.
“Epektibo talaga iyong tinatawag na granular lockdown. Kasi may mga kaso sa isang lugar na may tinatawag tayong clustering nung grupo-grupo na may sakit. Kaya yun ang inila-lockdown ng mga LGU. Mas alam nila yun,” Abalos said.
“Ang lahat ng ito makukuha pa natin ang resulta after siguro about mga 14 days,” he added.
The Inter-Agency Task Force against COVID-19 has included nearby provinces in areas under general community quarantine (GCQ) namely Cavite, Laguna and Rizal since most people entering the capital are from these areas.
One city that has the lowest number of cases is Taguig.
According to Mayor Lino Cayetano, the public should not be complacent even with vaccines. He said people should now learn how to live with COVID-19.
“The city of Taguig believe na para bumaba yung surge, bumaba yung numero ng mga kaso natin, kailangan bilisan natin yung behavioral change o yung pagbabago ng ugali natin para masanay tayo mamuhay na nandito ho ang virus. Simpleng bagay lang ho, paulit-ulit ho tayo, yung pagsuot ng mask, face shield, distansya, paghugas ho ng kamay,” Cayetano said,
Meanwhile, Abalos supports the plan to prioritize Metro Manila residents in the vaccination considering that the concentration of COVID-19 transmission is in the capital.
“Talagang mamadaliin para mabakunahan kaagad ang taga-Maynila dahil kumbaga sa sunog ng bahay, nandirito yung sunog nasa kuwartong ito, nasa NCR, kaya yun ang tuon ngayon ng pamahalaan,” he said. MNP (with reports from Rey Pelayo)
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