Motorists and commuters were stuck for hours as rerouting schemes and road closures paralyzed the traffic flow in roads of Angono, Binangonan, Taytay and nearby towns to give way for restoration of completed water transmission lines and booster pipe installation by the Manila Water.
“During this period, the affected road portions will not be passable to motorists.” Manila Water said in an advisory.
The scheme was met with countless complaints from students and teachers as classes resume this week.
Usual one-hour travel time lasted for 3-4 hours.
Louie Gallos, a UP Diliman student from Tanay shared that many jeep drivers cut trip because of the scheme.
“Sobrang congested papasok sa bayan ng Angono. Maraming di nagsasakay na jeep, mga byaheng Tropical (Cainta), Taytay, at Cubao. Hanggang highway, traffic din,” said Gallos.
(Congested roads going to town (Angono). Many jeepneys going to Tropical (Cainta), Taytay, and Cubao don’t want to pick up passengers anymore. The traffic jam reached the highway as well.)
Felipe Goleta, another student from UP Diliman from Binangonan echoed the same sentiments,
“Baku-bako ‘yong daan, tsaka destruction of government property na yan kasi hindi naman nila nire-restore sa dating road. At the same time, ang daming nasasayang na pera at panahon sa traffic dahil hindi napagplanuhang mabuti. Bakit ‘to pinayagan ng DPWH?,” lamented Goleta.
(The roads are rugged, it’s destruction of property because they do not repair the road after the installation. A lot of money goes to waste because of traffic and ill-planned construction. Why did DPWH allow this?)
Because of the congestion, many passengers were stranded while waiting for PUVs (public utility vehicles) including Elyssa Sandoval, a student from JRU (Jose Rizal University).
“Sobra po [ang traffic], punuan grabe [ang mga jeep],” complained Sandoval.
(Road is too clogged and jeepneys are jam-packed)
Teachers alike described their travails.
Earnest Tiempo now need to wake up and leave earlier than usual,
“Usually, 45 minutes matagal na ‘yon. Now, I have to give myself a two-hour allowance for it. Otherwise, late talaga ako,” shared Tiempo.
(45 minutes is too long already. Now, I have to give myself a two-hour allowance for it. Otherwise, I will be late.)
Juliet de Leon, a Filipino teacher from Teresa who teaches in Binangonan now finds it hard to come to school on time.
“Sa nararanasan ko ngayon na traffic napakahirap umalis kahit na maaga, late ka pa rin. Dapat hindi nila pinagsabay-sabay ang paggawa ng Manila Water na ‘yan kasi bawat bayan na madadaanan mo, traffic. Katulad ngayon, simula na ng pasukan, lalo na ko nale-late,” said de Leon.
(Even if I leave early, I will still be late, because of the traffic jam. Every town is congested because every town’s main road is under construction. When I went to school on Monday, I was late.)
David Magno, a BPO worker shares his travel time usually takes around 45 minutes to 1 hour, now it would take him 2-3 hours before he reaches office.
“Malaking perwisyo. Madalas na muntik akong ma-late. Adjust na adjust ako sa oras ng pasok para lang di mawalan ng hanapbuhay. Isang beses akong na-late at muntik pa akong ma-suspend. Alternatibo ko ngayon ang pagbisikleta,” said Magno.
(It’s a huge inconvenience. I am often almost late. I am adjusting so much so I won’t get fired. One time, I almost got suspended because I was late. My current alternative is to bike going to work.)
Exasperation plagues jeepney and tricycle drivers, saying they might just opt not to drive for the meantime. Some risk it because they said they will not have money to buy food.
Others saw a way to just choose to pick and drop passengers inside the subdivision; now starting to get congested too because motorists take the short cut inside to avoid the traffic jam in the main roads.
Irritation prevails among the motorists for having to waste fuel in a barely moving traffic.
Vehicles going to Angono and Binangonan are advised to to take Keep Moving Avenue and Edenville. “Stop and Go” scheme is implemented in Villa Lolita in Taytay to Botong Francisco Ave in Angono, Baragay Tayuman to Barangay Tagpos in Binangonan, and Barangay Biliiran to Barangay Darangan in Binangonan.
Meanwhile, Rizal governor Rebecca “Nini” Ynares ordered Manila Water to finish the construction earlier to reduce the inconvenience caused by it.
Road closure started last week and the completion of Manila Water construction is expected to last until August 31.
Last March, 70 barangay in Rizal experienced no water or limited water supply that lasted for a few weeks causing long qeues in water rationing stations in designated places in the province.
