More Vehicles Pass Through EDSA in 2019: MMDA

Vehicles passing through Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) increased by 5.75 percent, or an average of 405,882, for the first eight months this year, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported.

MMDA Spokesperson Asst. Sec. Celine Pialago, in a report sent to the media, said this is an additional 22,054 vehicles as compared to 2018 data, which posted an average of 383,828 vehicles.

Starting September until December, the number of vehicles plying EDSA is expected to increase by 20 percent, or 487,058 vehicles, especially during the Christmas season, Pialago said.

To address the expected increase in traffic volume, she said the MMDA would continue its strict enforcement of existing policies and create new ones in consultation with the Metro Manila Council (MMC).

“Strict enforcement of existing policies until such time magkaroon ulit tayo ng pagkakataong makapag-present sa MMC ng (we’ll have the chance to present to the MMC) new policies,” Pialago said.

The vehicular volume data was based on vehicular counts by MMDA personnel on an almost daily basis.

“Kapag nagpapa-vehicular count, halos everyday gagawin to make sure na tama ‘yung figures or at least mag-come up ng average (When vehicular counts are done, we do it almost everyday to make sure our figures are accurate or at least get an average),” Pialago added.

Of the average number of vehicles passing through EDSA in 2019, 110,167 were motorcycles, 255,732 were cars, and 2,166 were public utility buses.