Task force formed to address port congestion

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ID-100260857Government over the weekend created a task force to help address congestion at Manila ports, blamed in part for Friday’s massive traffic jam on the southbound lane of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

Task Force Pantalan is in charge of decongestion efforts from Sept 6 to Sept 21 and comprises personnel from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), and the Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group.

At a press conference on Saturday, MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the task force will monitor at least five counterflow lanes: Camachile Road to Monumento Road; A. Bonifacio Avenue in Caloocan; C3 Road to Artel; One lane at Delpan bridge; and one NLEX lane to accommodate another counterflow lane.

Tolentino said the scheme was finalized after a meeting between representatives of MMDA, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), NCRPO, and the Caloocan and Manila local government units.

“In C3, a counterflow lane will be implemented so that vehicles may pass through Balagtas, B. Serrano and M.H. Del Pilar Streets. There will be a counterflow lane on A. Bonifacio going to Balintawak as the need arises,” Tolentino said.
In Navotas, he said, there will be double lanes open for trucks all the way to Manila. Del Pan Bridge will be used as a counterflow lane.

He said the MMDA has also requested NLEX management to provide a shuttle bus to help passengers who might be affected exiting Baesa Road in Caloocan.

Tolentino disclosed they are in talks with NLEX authorities regarding the use of one tollgate as another lane for private vehicles going to the North, as a counterflow lane.

In addition, the MMDA chairman said they requested the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) to “open another lane for trucks entering the port. Currently, only one gate/lane is open but if two personnel from PPA will simultaneously process the trucks, it will speed up traffic and ease congestion. The PPA, through DPWH Sec. (Rogelio) Singson, has agreed to this request.”

Tolentino said traffic is being caused by the “sheer volume of thousands of trucks going to the port of Manila. PPA should expedite their internal processes to allow faster entry and exit of trucks getting their container vans inside PPA premises.”

Singson said the DPWH will in the meantime suspend road work on C3, R10 and side streets in Caloocan.

“Once we finish filling up the holes on these roads by the end of September, we are going to pull out all the contractors. We are suspending all work except the one in front of Luneta, which needs to be finished as soon as possible for the arrival of Pope Francis next year. All works have to be done on or before the last week of September.

Singson said affected work contracts and projects will resume in January 2015.

 Image courtesy of Feelart at FreeDigitalPhotos.net