Press Release
August 17, 2018

Statement by Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon on the MMDA's decision to suspend implementation of HOV policy

"I fully support and laud the decision of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to suspend the implementation of the 'driver-only' car scheme in EDSA. It is the right and proper thing to do."

"As the sponsor and one of the principal authors of Senate Resolution No. 845 which urged the suspension of the 'driver-only' car ban, I am glad that the MMDA has heeded our call and the millions of Filipinos who would have been negatively affected by the ban."

"That policy needs further study and public consultations must be made, which the MMDA and the Metro Manila authorities had failed to do in the first place."

"The traffic in Metro Manila is a major concern but we must avoid 'band-aid' solutions such as the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) policy and the 'driver-only' car scheme that have zero chance of success, and are very discriminatory against those who cannot afford to hire a driver."

"In Indonesia, along with US and Canada where HOV lanes have been implemented, the scheme has been criticized as ineffective and counterproductive in addressing traffic congestion."

"Hence, the MMDA and the Metro Manila authorities should look for real solutions to traffic congestion, but it should be done without violating the due process of laws enshrined and protected under the Constitution."

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