Cruel

FIRST PERSON

- ALEX MAGNO

Every day, this past week, we received sometimes conflicting instructions about the use of EDSA when the rehabilitation begins. These instructions involve odd-even schemes, number-coding windows, electric vehicle exemptions, and many more.

To this day, I remain confused. I am sure many motorists are too, notwithstanding all the charts merciful citizens have provided through social media.

In one such chart, it appears I can use my car only once each week. On all other days, I suppose, the only remedy is to book TNVS service to go about my business. Demand for that service will be greater once the "rehabilitation" begins.

What we are not told is if this rehabilitation of Metro Manila's most vital roadway will result in more road space for motorists. Will it cure, for instance, the bottleneck caused by the three Cubao underpasses that often require an hour to negotiate?

EDSA has been a heartache for those who need to use it. For years, we endured intermittent "road reblocking" of the avenue. I live in the vicinity of the cluttered "central station," a project that is over 15 years delayed. The bottleneck there is nearly a permanent feature.

The Balintawak cloverleaf is a classic in myopic engineering. Northbound, it is always choked by the volume of vehicles trying to get to NLEX — or those exiting from A. Bonifacio. Southbound, the wet market produces chaos at all hours.