High gas prices mean fewer cars on EDSA

By Christian Crow Maghanoy, Manila Times

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has noted a decrease in the number of vehicles traversing EDSA as a result of oil price increases triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

In a news briefing on Tuesday, MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said the drop was noticed before the May 9, 2022 elections when they logged 27,000 users, a decrease from the daily average of around 500,000 pre-pandemic.

"On May 5, 2022, 417,000 vehicles traversed EDSA or above the 405,000 pre-pandemic level. But on June 9, we counted only 392,000. The other day [June 19], we counted again, and there were only 390,000 users. I think a big factor here is the continuous increases in prices of petroleum products," Artes also said.

He added that the MMDA will not expand the number coding scheme or the Modified Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (MUVVRP), which bases the scheme on license plates on particular days of the week, except holidays.

Under the scheme, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., license plates ending in 1 and 2 are barred from Metro Manila roads on Mondays; 3 and 4 on Tuesdays; 5 and 6 on Wednesdays; 7 and 8 on Thursdays; and 9 and 0 on Fridays.