Christmas is definitely here and so is the heavy traffic around Metro Manila.
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced the measures to ease the holiday traffic after meeting with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), shopping mall operators, water utility and telecommunication companies.
MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia announced the traffic action plan that will be implemented from November 11 to January 10 next year will include the following:
First, all shopping malls located in Metro Manila will begin their operations by 11AM, an hour later from the usual 10AM opening time, during weekdays.
Second, shopping mall operators will deploy additional security personnel to facilitate long lines of vehicles going inside mall parking areas which cause traffic gridlock.
Third, obstructions at loading and unloading bays in the vicinity of shopping malls will be removed.
Fourth, deliveries of non-perishable goods will be limited only from 11PM, to 5AM.
And fifth, there will be a temporary suspension of road reblocking work along EDSA and C5, except government flagship projects or emergency cases.
There are some 100 shopping malls in Metro Manila, each one attracting huge crowds that cause traffic around their areas which affect the main thoroughfares.
CALAX
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has partially opened the first sections of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) which covers the Mamplasan Barrier onto Laguna Technopark Interchange, Laguna Boulevard Interchange all the way to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange.
According to DPWH Sec. Mark Villar, the project is already 90 percent complete.
The new road will result in a big cut in travel time compared to the 45-minutes it usually takes to travel Mamplasan to Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay road.
The DPWH secretary also stressed that in order to decongest Sta. Rosa- Tagaytay Road, Governor’s drive, Aguinaldo Highway, it is imperative that the total 45-kilometer length of CALAX be completed by June 2022.
Once completed, it will only take only about 45minutes to an hour to drive from Mamplasan to Kawit Cavite. The new road will serve some 50,000 vehicles.
CALAX is designed to be a four-lane, tolled expressway that will connect CAVITEX in Kawit to South Luzon Expressway at their Mamplasan Interchange in Binan Laguna.
Isuzu’s modern PUVs
Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) last week turned over 17 modern PUVs to the Metro Valenzuela Transport Service Cooperative (Metroval TSC).
During the formal turnover, held at the parking grounds of Metroval TSC, Mr. Celso Ensila Jr., Metroval TSC Chairman said the new PUVs’ route will be around Valenzuela, specifically eight units for Malanday-Pier, four units for Malanday-Divisoria, three units for Malanday-Recto, one unit for Malanday-Sta Cruz, and one unit for Meycauayan-Monumento.
The 17 modernized PUVs have been assembled using the Isuzu QKR77 platform, with the rear body designed and manufactured by Almazora Motors Corp.
The units are all air-conditioned Class 2 PUVs with a side-facing seat configuration. The Isuzu QKR platform is assembled in the Philippines and is equipped with Euro IV-compliant 4JH1-TC Diesel Engine that delivers excellent fuel economy.
The new PUV body is compliant with Philippine National Standards (PNS 2126:2017), with the passenger cabin providing more space for passengers to move easily inside.
The passenger door is situated on the right side, facing the sidewalk. Other design features of the body include panoramic windows and windshields, full-body insulation, and automatic door closer.
The Isuzu modern PUVs are “customized with various accessories such as WiFi, GPS, CCTV, LED displays and automatic fare collection system enabling cashless operations.
The 17 modern PUVs that Metroval TSC is now using are the latest additions in support of the government’s efforts to modernize all PUVs by June 2020, as embodied in the PUV Modernization Program that envisions the replacement of some 200,000 PUVs nationwide 15 years and older with new, safe and environmentally friendly vehicles.
Metroval TSC is a well-established transport entity in Valenzuela.
Happy Motoring!!!
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