An MMDA traffic enforcer directs traffic flow on EDSA.

Following the President’s vow to cut travel time on Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare to just “five minutes” by yearend, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has formed a task force to implement measures to improve the traffic flow from Cubao, Quezon City to Makati.

Task Force Cubao-Makati (CubMA) is composed of the MMDA, the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group, the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic, the Department of Transportation, the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), said MMDA EDSA traffic chief Edison “Bong” Nebrija.

The Department of Public Works and Highways will propose “engineering interventions” to ease traffic flow by fast-tracking weekend road repairs on EDSA, he said.

“Everybody should be on board not only the government agencies but also the people as the President has already spoken,” Nebrija said, adding, “Ang disiplina ay napakalaking bagay (Discipline is a very big thing).”

The MMDA and the LTFRB had enforced various traffic solutions, such as limiting the operations of UV Express units, strictly implementing the no-loading and unloading policy of provincial buses on EDSA and the phasing out of provincial bus terminals. (Jojo Mangahis)