DPWH wants removal of concrete barriers from Manila roads

The Department of Public Works and Highways wants to take away concrete barriers from highways in Metro Manila, particularly Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City. According to report on GMA News TV’s State of the Nation on Tuesday night, the department’s call for the removal of concrete barriers may improve the safety on the country’s major roads. "There are too many concrete and hard barriers. Ang mga U-turn [slots], may mga concrete barriers. If your [car’s] speed is 50 kph and you hit that concrete barrier, fatal and serious injuries could happen," Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said.
He suggested that barriers — which provide highways and roadways with cost-effective solution to traffic control — should be made of "plastic or rubberized" materials. The removal of concrete barriers is only one of the proposals that Australian and South Korean experts have suggested to the government to enhance the road safety in Metro Manila. The road safety experts, who are hired by the government, were conducting an assessment of Commonwealth Avenue, R-10, EDSA, and Quirino Avenue. They will release their findings next week, the same report said. — Jesse Edep/RSJ, GMA News