MMDA adds traffic enforcers along 'killer highway'

Following a series of deadly accidents there this month, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has deployed added traffic enforcement teams along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. In a radio interview Wednesday, MMDA spokesperson Tina Velasco said the added personnel are to be at their posts 24 hours a day, even as she said they had apprehended 74 violators since Monday. "Nagdagdag tayo ng tao riyan, 24 hours (a day). Nagkaroon na rin ng impounding of colorum, 74 apprehensions noong Monday (We have added personnel there to be on 24-hour watch. We have also impounded colorum vehicles, making 74 apprehensions since Monday)," Velasco told dzXL radio. Also, the MMDA is coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways to make Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City safer for motorists, commuters and pedestrians. DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said he has discussed with MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino the possible use of better-designed delineators. "Nag-usap na kami ni Chairman Tolentino kahapon. Merong mungkahi gamiting delineator, ang sinasabing delineator sa concrete pero mas mababa (I discussed with Tolentino the use of a delineator that has a better design)," Singson said in a separate interview on dzXL radio.

The 12.4-km Commonwealth Avenue has been dubbed "killer highway" due to the high number of vehicular accidents there. Last May 13, journalist-professor Lourdes "Chit" Estella-Simbulan was killed after a bus rammed her taxi from behind. The driver, Daniel Espinosa, remains at large. Before dawn Wednesday, an 11-year-old boy was killed after a pickup ran over him while he was crossing the road along Commonwealth Avenue. On the other hand, the "killer highway" claimed four more lives Tuesday night after four suspected bus robbers were shot dead in an encounter with police there. 'Emergency meeting' Meanwhile, the MMDA said it was to meet with bus firms and the Department of Labor and Employment within the day to discuss a salary scheme for bus drivers. On Tuesday, Tolentino had hinted at pushing a regular salary for bus drivers so they need not race each other just to get more passengers. "We're talking about more strategic measures this morning but coming from the incident last Friday ... We're taking stock of what happened," Velasco said. She also said the MMDA will be open to all options. "We're opening our doors to all dialogue," she said. — RSJ, GMA News