MMDA: Color coding only for buses
MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) clarified on Thursday that it is not planning to implement color coding for jeepneys.
This, after transport group PISTON threatened to launch a transport strike if the scheme pushes through.
MMDA chair Francis Tolentino clarified that color coding, which is being studied for implementation only for buses and not for jeepneys, is entirely different from number coding.
Color coding would entail repainting a part of the bus with a color dedicated to its franchise route so enforcers could easily identify those units going out of line.
"Nagkaroon ng confusion. There's nothing wrong with repainting a vehicle for purposes of organization. There will be no displacement for drivers," Tolentino said.
He added that the MMDA, together with other stakeholders, will meet at a traffic management summit to discuss more ways to decrease traffic in the Metro, especially along EDSA.
This will be on top of the bus coding scheme that was officially implemented Wednesday.
Tolentino admitted that it would take until next year before its results would be felt by motorists, as the holiday season rush is expected to bring more traffic.
According to estimates, around 16 to 24 percent of legitimate EDSA buses will be removed every day because of the scheme.
The MMDA has also submitted to Malacañang a comprehensive flood control plan to address the perennial flooding problem of the metropolis.
Aside from a preliminary assessment of existing conditions that cause flooding, the plan also recommended several interventions to address the problem.
