AAP Says No Need to Ban Private Cars on EDSA

The leadership of the Automobile Association Philippines (AAP) shrugged off the idea of banning private vehicles along EDSA during rush hour.

During the Vehicle Safety Course 2019 conducted today, September 17, by the ASEAN New Car Assesment Program, AAP President Augusto Lagman said that banning private cars would only clog inner roads and streets that are significantly smaller than the major thoroughfares.

Instead of withholding private car users, Lagman proposed that the government could charge private car users when they want to use EDSA during peak hours.

"Those who are in a hurry may use EDSA, but they have to be ready to pay the corresponding charging," Lagman said.

Congestion pricing has already been implemented in First-World cities such as London, Dublin, Milan, New York, and Stockholm as well as Singapore.

Congestion charges are targeted to regulate demand without increasing supply.

Earlier, Committee on Metro Manila Development Vice Chairman Edgar Erice of the House of Representatives proposed at the hearing of the 2020 budget proposal of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to prohibit private vehicles from 6:00 AM-9:00 AM and 6:00 PM-9:00 PM.