MMDA eyes extending EDSA HOV Lane dry run

FILE: The MMDA said it still needs to assess whether to fully implement the scheme amid concerns on monitoring compliance due to heavily tinted vehicles.
(Photo by Patrickroque01 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0)

MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is considering extending its dry run of the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Lane along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) to next week.

The MMDA said it still needs to assess whether to fully implement the scheme amid concerns on monitoring compliance due to heavily tinted vehicles.

“Our CCTV cameras are having difficulty capturing images of heavily tinted vehicles that are not complying with the HOV. We still need to continue our assessment. So the dry run might be extended until next week,” MMDA supervising officer for operations Bong Nebrija said in an interview with reporters Wednesday.

“There is still a need to create public awareness on the HOV Lane,” he added.

The MMDA official said the agency would still wait for the report of a technical working group it has formed with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) for the review of the guidelines on tinted vehicles.

The agency does not have the mandate to regulate tinted vehicles, according to Nebrija.

Latest data from the MMDA show that 2,852 vehicles were monitored to have not complied with the HOV Lane through no-contact apprehension, while 1,115 vehicles were captured through the handy cameras of its traffic enforcers during its dry run from December 11 to 13. A total of 8,314 heavily tinted vehicles have violated the traffic scheme.

Vehicles with at least two or more passengers inside may pass through the HOV Lane to be located at the fifth and leftmost lane along EDSA.

Motorcycle riders could also use the said lane aside from the motorcycle lane at the fourth lane.

Private car drivers with no companion can still use the motorcycle lane, second and third lanes, from the MRT.

Violators will be caught through no-contact apprehension and pay a fine of PHP500 once the policy is fully implemented. (PNA)