MMDA leads blessing of accident-plagued EDSA

Officials of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) led the “blessing” of the 24-kilometer Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) following a recent string of accidents that left several people injured.

“We found out that the entirety of EDSA has not been formally blessed, as far back as when it was still known as Highway 54. So we decided to do it now, hoping that it would somehow lessen the road mishaps,” MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said.

From January to April 2012 alone, the MMDA already recorded 721 road accidents on EDSA.

EDSA is the longest and most important avenue in Manila. It connects and provides access to the cities of Caloocan, Quezon City, Mandaluyong, San Juan, Makati, Pasig, Taguig, Parañaque and Pasay.

The blessing, led by Tolentino and Catholic priest Roderick Castro, started at the southbound section of EDSA-Magallanes interchange. Castro led a prayer asking for guidance and protection for motorists and pedestrians.

On Thursday morning, a Cher bus bound for Baclaran, reportedly lost its brakes and slammed into a taxi, triggering a six-vehicle collision at the southbound lane of the EDSA-Magallanes interchange. The incident left a pregnant woman injured.

The MMDA officials stopped and offered prayers at various points of EDSA that recorded a high number of fatal accidents such as the Ayala tunnel in Makati, Buendia, Guadalupe, the Mandaluyong Crossing underpass, and at the Ortigas flyover.

“(The) MMDA is continuously finding solutions to improve traffic situation in Metro Manila. But the public should also cooperate, road discipline is important.” he said.

Tolentino also reminded motorists, especially bus drivers, to be aware of the safety precautions implemented by the MMDA.

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