To accommodate more commuters this Xmas rush
NANCY REQUESTS LRT, MRT TO EXTEND OPERATING HOURS

Senator Nancy Binay today requested the transportation and traffic management agencies to extend its service hours in anticipation of the large number of rush hour shoppers during the last week before Christmas.

According to Binay, with malls operating until 11pm, plus the rains, coupled with last-minute shopping and late night Christmas parties, commuters and motorists have complained being on the road for more than three hours, and arriving home as late as 3am.

"New normal na nga ba ang traffic o mas pinabigat pa natin ang araw-araw na pagko-commute dahil sa extended mall hours?" she asked.

"Shout out po sa ating mga otoridad sa Department of Transportation at MMDA na kung maaari ay mag-extend din ng oras ang MRT at LRT para makatulong na maibsan ang traffic sa mga major roads at magkaroon ng karagdagang opsyon ang mga commuter at mamimili na makauwi ng matiwasay," the senator added.

Binay noted that public transportation should extend their operating hours to complement the 11am to 11pm mall hours.

"Nag-uunahan na ang mga tao sa mga limitadong bus o jeep pagsarado ng mga mall dahil mas maagang nagsasara ang MRT at LRT na hanggang 10:00pm o 10:30pm lang," Binay said. "Isa po ito sa mga nakikita kong dahilan ng pagbigat ng traffic sa late evening," she added.

The legislator also appealed to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to field more traffic enforcers during evenings to ensure that traffic flows smoothly.

"Dagdagan din po sana ng MMDA, katuwang ang mga local government units (LGUs), ang mga enforcer upang mag-manage ng traffic lalo na sa vicinity ng malls," Binay said.

She also encouraged the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to grant more special point-to-point (P2P) bus franchises and routes to inspire more motorists to shift to commuting.

"More people could be inspired to take public transport if there are more options for them to commute, especially in terms of new and additional P2P busses and routes," Binay said.

"Mas maraming tao ang maisasakay ng mga bus, mas maraming mga pribadong sasakyan ang mawawala sa mga daan," she added.

Binay also expressed hope that the Pasig River Ferry service would be restarted soon.

"Isa ring paraan upang maibsan ang traffic ang Pasig River Ferry, kung kaya inaasahan ang muli nitong pagbubukas," she said.

"Kung 'we got it all for you' ang sagot ng mga malls, ganun din dapat ang tugon ng pamahalaan pagdating sa mga pampublikong sasakyan," Binay added.