Apec empties Edsa, fills up MRT stations

By: Cenon B. Bibe Jr - 9 years ago

An empty Edsa and a crowded MRT station in Magallanes show how the Filipino working class is paying a price for the PH hosting Apec. CENON BIBE/黑料社

Commuters swamped at least two MRT stations in Pasay and Makati Wednesday afternoon after government officials banned private and public vehicles on Edsa from Ayala Avenue to Roxas Boulevard due to the Apec summit.

The absence of private and public transportation left that stretch of Edsa empty, with only security personnel dotting the usually jammed thoroughfare.

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Officials kept Edsa clear to allow Apec delegates a fast and comfortable ride to and from summit venues in the Makati Central Business District and in Pasay City.

鈥淲alang masakyan. Ito lang (MRT),鈥� said Mario, a 48-year-old Makati employee, who usually took the bus home to Quezon City.

He said the MRT station in Magallanes was usually not so busy at mid-afternoon, even on weekdays.

However, at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, at least three lines of commuters already snaked down from the station entrance on the third level to the ground level on Edsa. Another line of commuters stretched into the adjacent Alphaland mall.

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A MRT security officer confirmed Mario鈥檚 observation.

Asked for his thoughts, Mario said, 鈥淪abi nila para sa ekonomiya 鈥榶ang Apec. 鈥楶ag ganito naman ay hindi mo maramdaman yung sinasabi nila.

鈥淧arang tayo pa ang agrabyado eh,鈥� he added.