Provincial buses are no longer allowed on any of the underpasses on Edsa, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
The directive鈥攁nnounced in Memorandum Circular Number 3 s. 2015, signed by MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino on Sept. 9鈥攃anceled a May 20 memorandum extending the effectivity of another memorandum allowing the buses to use Edsa underpasses but under certain conditions.
鈥淭o harmonize the traffic schemes currently being implemented on Edsa, [the May 20 memorandum] is hereby canceled,鈥� Tolentino said.
It added that effective 鈥渋mmediate[ly],鈥� all provincial buses 鈥渟hall use [only] the yellow lane and are no longer allowed to use any of the underpasses of Edsa.鈥�
In a separate resolution, the Metro Manila Council also announced the truck ban rules to be implemented in the metropolis effective Sept. 15 in preparation for the Asia Pacific Economic Conference 鈥渋n the third and fourth quarters鈥� of this year.
According to Resolution No. 3, series of 2015, approved by the MMC鈥檚 Special Traffic Committee on Sept. 4, truck ban hours on all roads in Metro Manila will be re-implemented from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. every day, except Sundays and holidays.
A total ban on trucks and heavy vehicles remains in effect on Edsa and the three central business districts鈥擮rtigas, Makati and Bonifacio Global City鈥攆rom Monday to Sunday, the resolution said.
鈥淎t no time during the whole day will trucks be allowed to park on any major thoroughfare in Metro Manila,鈥� it added.
It said trucks were allowed 24 hours in the following northern routes, 鈥渟ubject to prohibited dates in Apec-related events to be determined in later resolutions鈥濃�攆rom Port Area to North Diversion Road and from North Diversion Road to Port Area.
According to the MMC, only trucks loaded with 鈥減erishable and agricultural cargo鈥� as defined in a 2008 memorandum were exempted from the resolution.鈥�Kristine Felisse Mangunay