By Leon De Guinto
Come April 1, it’s going to be the “end of the road” for certain types of slow-moving vehicles plying certain highways and major routes within Metro Manila.
Reason: that’s the time the so-called “highway ban” adopted by the Metro Manila Council last week will take effect. The ban will be enforced by the MMC enforcement arm MMDA under Regulation 24-0220 and will apply to e-bikes and e-trikes, as well as tricycles, pedicabs, pushcarts, kuliglig or kolong-kolong (motorized tractors).
At least 19 highways and major roads such as EDSA, C5 (Katipunan-CP Garcia, Marcos Highway, SLEX, McArthur, Roxas Blvd, Recto Avenue etc., will be covered by the MMDA prohibition.
At a press conference last week, MMDA chairman Don Artes said the primary consideration in the approval of the resolution is concern for the safety, not only of e-vehicle users, but also of other motorists.
“We are not totally banning the use of e-vehicles; we just want to regulate it since it has been a common cause of traffic and road crash incidents,” Artes pointed out.
In 2023 alone, the MMDA tallied 554 road mishaps involving e-vehicles.
Those who will violate the prohibition will be penalized with a P2500 fine. A driver’s license shall also be required for those who will drive electric-powered motor vehicles and tricycles. Those who cannot present their driver’s license upon apprehension will have their vehicles impounded, Artes said.
The timing of the effectivity of the MMC ban is suspect as it falls on April Fool’s Day, and thus, will likely become a prankster’s object.
The MMC resolution has the force and effect of a law with public safety in the mind of its enforcers, but it should be balanced with the interest of a significant minority — those who make a living out of these public conveyances. To them, a motorcycle, for instance, is life and a means of livelihood, as the Asian Development Bank has found in a July 2020 study.
They can’t be faulted if ever, in righteous indignation, they will denounce and protest against the MMC’s upcoming ban. Therefore, a little compassion from enforcers for this marginalized sector, won’t hurt or diminish their reputation.
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NAIAx Tramo access ramp: New feather on RSA’s cap
San Miguel Corporation and its president-CEO Ramon S. Ang never seem to run out of ideas.
Fresh from bagging a megabuck contract with the government for the modernization of the country’s premier airport NAIA, here comes Ang building the access ramp of the NAIA Expressway at Tramo, Pasay City.
The 800-meter access ramp is expected to ease traffic in the area and provide seamless access to the country’s main international gateway and other areas, Ang or RSA said during his project’s ceremonial opening on March 1.
In that occasion, the tireless RSA amplified the importance of access ramp for motorists using EDSA southbound coming from Makati, or northbound, coming from the Entertainment City. He said the access ramp can help relieve overall traffic congestion in the area, and improve traffic flow within the vicinity of the airport.
Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan who led the inauguration of the new access ramp, credited SMC for supporting the government’s efforts to build vital infrastructure to sustain the country’s economic growth.
“The Tramo access ramp has been in San Miguel’s drawing board for a long, long time because they knew it would enhance the efficiency of NAIA Expressway and improve the mobility of motorists going to the airport,” Bonoan said.
Improvements on NAIAx are being studied by their agency, as grantor of the concession, in partnership with SMC, to improve the flow of traffic to airport terminals, given the growing demand, Bonoan said.
For his part, RSA remained firm in SMC commitment to work closely with the government, as it pursues infrastructure projects that benefit Filipinos.
“Through these projects, we also create jobs, improve the mobility of people, goods and services, and make our cities and regions more primed for growth. All these serve to support and sustain our growing economy,” RSA said.
Now a popular figure seen in public often donning his signature cap, RSA is truly a visionary, a genius and a silent patriot who doesn’t flaunt his achievements nor crow about where his loyalty lies. ***
A good reason for Razon: Water security
A diversifying conglomerate under the wings of Enrique K. Razon Jr. is gaining headway with a major infrastructure project.
The Upper Wawa Dam, bandied about as the largest water supply dam to be built in over 50 years, stands at 93-percent completion, as of February 28, 2024, according to Razon’s Prime Infra, the leader of the joint venture named WawaJVCo Inc.
The joint venture brings on bright prospects of water security for the Greater Manila Area including the provinces of Rizal and Cavite, the company said Wednesday.
“Once completed, the Upper Wawa Dam will help address water security and ensure sustainable water supply to benefit over 700,000 households or about 3.5 million Filipinos within the service area of MWSS, through two water concessionaires—Maynilad Water Services for the West Zone and Manila Water Company for the East Zone,” the company said.
Upper Wawa Dam’s capacity of approximately 710 million liters per day (MLD) will provide a reliable alternative source of raw water, reducing reliance on the existing Angat-Ipo System and increasing resilience to climate-related crises, like the El Nino.
It presents a promising solution to address critical water security challenges facing the Greater Metro Manila Area, the company said.
Upper Wawa Dam is primed for commercial operations by the end of 2025, well within schedule to align with Razon’s goal of building assets that support the most urgent sustainability priorities – energy, access to clean water, and waste management.
Razon, known as the man who brought Filipino port operational skills to the global map, appears to have made another winning bet in water infrastructure.
