Travelling from Cubao in Quezon City to Makati via EDSA in five minutes is “doable,” according to a police official.
In a report by The STAR, Brig. Gen. Roberto Fajardo, director of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (HPG), said that President Duterte’s pronouncement of cutting travel time between Cubao and Makati along EDSA to five minutes is possible – but only during off-peak hours.
According to a result of a simulation conducted by the HPG, travel between Cubao to Makati only took four minutes and 58 seconds at around 1 a.m.
However, aside from being escorted by HPG motorcycles, the vehicles used were running at 70 kilometers per hour, which is beyond the 60 kph speed limit on EDSA.
Fajardo said that various government agencies are working to reduce travel time from Cubao to Makati along EDSA.
“That’s the President’s order. So we will do our best. Actually, iyun ang challenge sa amin, kapag sinabi ni Presidente (That’s the challenge to us, and if the President says so), we will do it,” Fajardo said.
Duterte recently said that travel time between Cubao and Makati will be improved by December.
“You don’t have to worry about traffic. Travel time from Cubao to Makati could be reduced to five minutes by December. You just wait,” Duterte said.
Fajardo reported that motorists and the riding public should expect drastic measures along Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare beginning next month.
Fajardo warned motorists to follow traffic rules to avoid infractions as they are set to deploy around 50 personnel to ensure the strict enforcement of traffic regulation along EDSA.
“Wala kaming gagawin kung hindi mag-issue ng ticket (We’ll do nothing but issue tickets) to traffic violators,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority are planning to transfer the motorcycle lane along EDSA to the right side beside the two lanes reserved for city buses, The STAR reported.
Fajardo said that transferring the motorcycle lane would pave the way for a smoother flow of traffic on the two leftmost lanes allotted for private vehicles. – With reporting from Emmanuel Tupas/STAR