Palace apologizes for heavy traffic during EDSA People’s Power rites

EDSA “carmageddon” during the 29th anniversary of EDSA People Power celebrations (Amanda Fernandez / Twitter)

MANILA – Malacanang on Thursday apologized to the motorists and commuters affected by the heavy traffic that marred the 29th anniversary of the EDSA People’s Power Revolution last Wednesday.

”We are asking for apology from our countrymen who were trapped in traffic brought by the closure of the roads yesterday,” Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing in Malacanang.

Coloma promised that next time, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) would release traffic advisory way ahead of the event.

”Next time we will release much earlier the complete advisories regarding the alternate routes so that our commuters and motorists will not again suffer delays and sacrifices due to heavy traffic,” Coloma said.

Although the MMDA has released traffic advisory two weeks before the EDSA People Power anniversary, MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino admitted they can do better to improve the traffic flow.

Coloma explained that the closure of some portions of EDSA was part of the security measures implemented by the authorities for the successful celebration of the bloodless 1986 People’s Power.