Senators: Lift ban on solo riders

The Senate unanimously adopted on Wednesday a resolution urging the immediate suspension and recall of the Edsa ban on solo drivers during rush hours.

Senate Resolution No. 845 was initiated by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.

It was Drilon, who sponsored the measure on the floor but all senators present on the floor were later made co-authors of the resolution.

No senator objected when Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri moved for the approval of the resolution.

After the approval, Sotto directed the Senate Secretariat to send a copy of the measure to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

The approval of the measure came just as the MMDA kicked off its weeklong dry-run of the ban.

In the resolution, the authors urged the Metro Manila Council and the MMDA to conduct public consultations, further study of the ban, and “provide for real solutions to Metro Manila traffic congestions.”

It also urged the Metro Manila Council to recall an MMDA regulation that established the Expanded High Occupancy Vehicle Lanes on Edsa and for MMDA to suspend immediately the implementation of the ban.

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