Albay Congressman Salceda consideres the move as “anti-poor”.
Instead of blaming the traffic congestion in EDSA to provincial buses, the government must pay attention to the problems caused by and involving the players of the augmented reality game, Pokemon GO.
This is the suggestion raised by Albay Rep. Joey Salceda regarding the government’s decision to prohibit provincial buses along EDSA to alleviate the worsening gridlock.
Salceda emphasized that Pokemon Go players on-board private vehicles add more traffic congestion due to the sudden maneuvers they had to do just to catch their monsters.
While provincial buses only help the public reach their destinations safely.
He also added that among the thousands of vehicles all over Metro Manila only 3.300 are provincial buses and the rest are jeepneys, taxis and private vehicles.
Salceda also said that the government’s move to prohibit provincial buses along EDSA is anti-poor and can cost the poor more as they have to make double rides just to get their way to their destination.
Concurrent to the launching of Pokemon Go in the Philippines in early August, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has issued a safety warning for those focused on their smartphones while playing the much-awaited, said to be addictive, game.
It reminded the trainers to avoid playing the game while crossing the street. If they just cannot stop themselves from playing the game, the MMDA said that they should use pedestrian crossings and footbridges when crossing the street.
The MMDA has also prohibited Pokemon Go players from entering their building which is said to be a haven of Pocket monsters.
Many incidents in some countries where the game was earlier launched happened while the gamers were so focused into their devices’ screen and were not conscious about their surroundings which put themselves into danger.