Magallanes Interchange traffic woes may end in March

The woes of motorists passing through the Magallanes Interchange in Makati City may last until March, the Metro Manila Development Authority chief admitted Saturday. MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said this is due mainly to the continuing work on the First Philippine Industrial Corp. pipeline. “Ang pagkakaalam ko ay magtatagal pa hanggang Marso ito, ang ganitong sitwasyon. Hindi pa tapos ang problema natin sa Magallanes Interchange," Tolentino said in an interview aired on dzBB radio. (From what I understand, the traffic situation is not likely to be fully resolved until March. Our problem at the Magallanes Interchange is not yet over.) FPIC’s pipeline was closed earlier this year after the discovery of structural flaws believed to be the source of oil leaks in areas of Makati City. The FPIC pipeline transmits fuel to Shell Philippines and Chevron's oil depots in Manila's Pandacan district from their oil refineries in Batangas province. On Friday, Tolentino issued an additional 100 truck-ban exemptions for the fuel firms' lorries, including those of smaller oil players. “We virtually have no truck ban now. Trucks are on the road 24 hours a day. That has added to our traffic woes," he said. according to him, the MMDA has also given the FPIC a permit to continue its pipeline repair until February 1. He said the work, which may include a portion of the pipeline near the Magallanes Interchange, may force the MMDA to keep at least one lane of the interchange closed to traffic. “Magsasara tayo isang lane sa interchange, makadudulot ito ng traffic bukod sa Christmas holiday rush (For now, we have to close one lane in the interchange. This will further hamper traffic flow, aside from the ongoing Christmas rush)," he said.