This Week in Metro Manila (April 2 to 8, 2018) After the long weekend, Metro Manila welcomes back everyone with traffic.
Several transportation units such as buses are occupied with vacationers returning to Manila after the Holy Week.
After the Holy Week break, people are now returning to Manila to resume their daily routines. As ManileĂąos return to the city, they are welcomed back by the hot weather and heavy traffic particularly in Quezon City. After bidding farewell to the long weekend, commuters also have to say goodbye to the Uber app as the company merges with Grab.
Weather: Sunny Week Ahead
While Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has yet to declare the official start of summer in the country, the scorching weather continues. According to Accuweather, Manila will experience consistent and partial sunny weather during the weekdays but will have possible chance of rain on the weekends. Daytime temperature ranges from 31 °C to 34 °C, which means that having an umbrella is a must if you’re heading outside [1]. In case you need to head out for the weekend, bring a hoodie or a cardigan for the cold winds brought by rain.
Traffic News: Heavy traffic in QC, merging of Grab and Uber, and Lifted number coding
To add more buses that will transport passengers from Manila to provinces or vice versa, number coding for city and provincial buses would be lifted until April 2 [2]. Meanwhile, although the traffic situation in Manila varies per area, Quezon City will face heavier traffic, particularly along the Elliptical Road due to the construction of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT)Line 7 [3]. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) laid out alternative routes online, so commuters or motorists can check the agency’s Facebook page for the routes. Meanwhile, Grab and Uber, two of the major Transport Vehicle Network Service (TNVS) in the country, will be merging in South East Asia [4], which will result in Uber ceasing its operations on April 9 [5].
Travel Updates: Airport improvements and plane upgrades
NAIA improves After ranking among the worst airports in the world for many years, Ninoy Aquino International Airport has finally redeemed itself after it was recently hailed as one of the most improved airports in the world according to London-based research firm Skytrax [6]. This is due to continuous efforts, renovations, and policies and reforms to improve the flight experience of passengers and reduce flight delays and decongestion of the airport [7]. Still on the topic of improvements, Cebu Pacific has received its new Airbus A321 jets, the longest and widest single aisle aircraft [8]. Among the amenities inside the new plane includes USB slots, which will allow passengers to charge their mobile phones while on the flight.