THE Metro Manila Development Authority on Saturday called on school administrators to adopt a shuttle bus system to ease traffic caused by private and public utility vehicles dropping and picking up students.
MMDA chairman Emerson Carlos said heavy traffic usually occurs in the vicinity of Ateneo de Manila University and Miriam College in Katipunan, Quezon City; Poveda College and De La Salle University in Greenhills, San Juan City, and La Salle in Taft Avenue, Manila.
MMDA issued the proposal, noting that as many as 2.6 million students will troop to public and private schools nationwide.
These schools will be congested if they insist on having one vehicle per student, he said.
”Actually, we’re suggesting that they adopt a system where they can pick up or bring back students from different points away from the school premises,” said Carlos.
School authorities express concerns on security and safety of students but Carlos is optimistic they will consider and think up of ways to secure their students.
The MMDA also recently suggested to school administrators to implement a 15-second policy for students alighting from or boarding vehicles in front of schools to avoid congestion in the area.
“The [school administrations] will be the one to implement that without government intervention and we want it that way. It will be self-regulatory,” he added.
The MMDA came up with the proposal following observation of some motorists that traffic was heavy during morning and late afternoon due to the upsurge in volume of the students going in and out of the school.
The motorists noted the halting of public utility vehicles near schools for dropping and picking up students, far away from the regular PUV stops aggravated the traffic situation while the presence of enforcers has in no way helped in ensuring free flow of traffic.
But the MMDA stated that congestion alone is not only a matter of concern, but also the safety of students, saying erring drivers seem to pay no attention to safety areas like school zones.
Last month, the agency relaunched a massive repainting of all pedestrian lanes, particularly those within the immediate surroundings of schools in Metro Manila, in time for the school opening Monday.
“This is our contribution to the Department of Education’s annual Brigada Eskwela program. We at the MMDA are optimistic that the students will make use of pedestrian lanes to avoid accidents caused by jaywalking,” said Carlos.
At least 700 pedestrian lanes all over the metropolis were repainted with thermoplastic materials which are reflectorized and do not fade easily.
The MMDA will also deploy personnel to man traffic on major roads leading to big schools and universities, especially along Katipunan Avenue, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue and Ortigas Avenue.
Metro Manila police director Joel Pagdilao said uniformed policemen will be deployed to ensure the safety of students.
“We are expecting 2.6 million students from kinder to senior high school to go to school on June 13. Our priority is to secure them against lawless elements and keep the school premises safe from all perpetrators,” Pagdilao said.
He added “We put premium in the safety and security of our students here in Metro Manila, especially those in the elementary and high school. Their vulnerability to be target of criminals and other opportunists because of their tender age is something that must be protected by our men in the field.”
Pagdilao said his command group, together with DepEd National Capital Region, Office of the Civil Defense and MMDA officials, already discussed the plans and programs to ensure that the “Balik Eskwela 2016” will be smooth and secure for all students, academic workers, and the public.
