PNP-HPG: 5-Minute Travel Time from Cubao to Makati to Happen Before December

It seems the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) is already determined to have the five-minute travel time from Cubao to Makati City implemented–so much so that it expects it to be implemented by the end of December.

“We will comply with the order of the President. Sabi ni President by December, so kaya namin before,” said PNP-HPG Director Brig. Gen. Roberto Fajardo.

“You don’t have to worry about traffic … Cubao and Makati will be about five minutes na lang … You just wait. Ayaw kong mag-ano–but things will improve … maybe, God willing, December smooth sailing na,” President Rodrigo Duterte said in an interview earlier this month.

Despite this confidence, Fajardo admitted that it will be a challenge for the law enforcers, although they will do their best to reach–or perhaps even surpass this goal.

“You will see. We will comply with the orders of the President. Kung hindi man five minutes ‘yun, eh ‘di gawin naming four minutes (If not five minutes, then we will make it four minutes,)” he jokingly said to Inquirer.

Is it Possible?

Traveling to Cubao to Makati in five-minutes is actually possible, according to Inquirer. PNP-HPG was able to do it using a private vehicle–with police escorts, however. What’s more, GMA News reported that the PNP-HPG were able to do it during off-peak hours.

“Tinira namin ‘yun, madaling araw nga lang, (We tried it, although during the early hours) 1:00 a.m., boundary of Guadalupe going to Cubao. Wala namang sinabi si Presidente kung saan nagmula (The President didn’t say where to start),” Fajardo said.

Still, they are confident it can be done by all public commuters and drivers–if the bus terminals will be shut down, all bus barriers will be transferred, and the motorcycle lane will be moved from the fast lane to the third lane.

“Why? Para ‘yung fast lane talagang mabilis, hindi nag-aagawan, para ‘yung motorcycle hindi nakikipagpatintero sa mga mabilis na sasakyan (So that the fast lane will really be fast, and the motorcycles will not travel alongside the fast vehicles),” Fajardo said.

Currently, PNP-HPG is planning with the Department  of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on ways to lessen traffic congestion along EDSA.