New MMDA traffic czar creates special team to oversee EDSA traffic

Saying people consider Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) as the face of Metro Manila's traffic woes, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has created a special team to oversee traffic along the historic highway. New MMDA traffic czar Undersecretary Alex Cabanilla exhorted traffic enforcers to do their job well along EDSA, which is becoming more congested due to the Christmas shopping rush. "We should do well here since this is the catalyst of our performance on traffic management," he said in an article posted on Tuesday on the MMDA website. Cabanilla particularly urged enforcers to promote the buddy system and generate a spirit of cooperation. He said the "EDSA Special Transport and Traffic Zone" is a management approach to handle the EDSA traffic gridlock. "We will group our enforcers into teams that will be accountable for their respective areas. We will strengthen existing monitoring systems and put in place people who can be relied and depended upon to enforce traffic rules and regulations," he said. However, he also advocated the adoption of the car pooling system. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino ordered Cabanilla to oversee traffic enforcement along EDSA. "I urge you to honestly perform your duties to manage traffic along EDSA," Tolentino said. Tolentino also reiterated incentives for exemplary traffic enforcers which include scholarship grants, awards, and citations. Tasked to assist Cabanilla are: