A video of a couple walking along EDSA, believed to be near the MRT Buendia Station, sparked safety concerns among Filipinos.
TikTok user @vccustodio captured the clip showing the pair in the middle of one of Metro Manila’s busiest highways.
Motorists had no choice but to avoid the lovers who appeared to be unaware of the dangers of walking along EDSA.
“Mapapa-’SANA ALL’ na lang talaga,” the user wrote as a caption.
@vccustodio Mapapa “SANA ALL” nalang talaga 🥹✨❤️ #fyp #relationship #amatshitshi ♬ together w you – Jiroooo on Spotify
The video has so far garnered 5.3 million views, 603,000 likes and over 12,100 comments on the mobile video-sharing platform.
It also reached Facebook, where a page posting about happenings involving public transportation uploaded a screengrab of the incident on Sunday, August 24.
“Couple goals: Parehas kayong perwisyo,” the page wrote.
The Facebook post has so far drawn 16,000 reactions, 4,200 shares, and 91 comments.
While some Filipinos found the incident amusing, others expressed concern and criticized the couple’s actions.
“‘Di ba maraming MMDA diyan, ba’t ni isa, wala man lang sumita or [humuli]?” a TikTok user commented.
“This is [considered] as jaywalking, penalty malala,” another wrote.
“This behavior is a clear example of reckless disregard for one’s own safety and the safety of others,” a Facebook user said.
“Obstructing a highway or passageway,” another Facebook user commented.
“What’s amusing? They’re annoying and [have] become a nuisance for road users. Ano na naman stunt ‘yan? Kapag naaksidente sila, kasalanan pa nung makakasagasa sa kanila,” a different online user commented.
According to a video report, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is already looking for the couple for possible violation of jaywalking.
MMDA Chair Don Artes said that they will turn over the couple to the Philippine National Police or the Department of Social Welfare and Development — if both are minors.
He added that the MMDA has no authority to apprehend jaywalkers.
Meanwhile, Vlue Custodio, the uploader, said in an interview that he took the video from a footbridge in Buendia on Wednesday, August 20.
“At first, parang akala ko, tatawid lang sila, kasi nakita ko nagtatalo na sila eh. Then, nung habang tumatagal, parang nag-aaway, tsaka ‘yung gesture nung dalawa is, parang hindi normal,” Custodio said to Bilyonaryo News Channel.
“So nung nasa may overpass na ako, nakita ko sila, dire-diretso lang sila mismo sa gitna ng EDSA,” he added.
Jaywalking is not a criminal offense in the country, but under the Anti-Jaywalking Ordinance, violators face a minimum fine of P200.
In 2021, the MMDA said that offenders could be fined P500 or required to render community service.
“Mag-ingat po tayo sa daan. Sa mga commuters po natin, tumawid lamang po sa tamang tawiran dahil delikado po kung sa kalsada at sa hindi tamang tawiran. Ito po ay pwedeng mauwi sa akidente and pwede niyo po ikapinsala o ikasasawi pa. So sana po maging maingat tayong lahat,” Artes said in the interview.
He added that the MMDA, along with the Department of Transportation, are planning to put up barriers or fences on roads near public transportation stations.
Jaywalking is when a pedestrian crosses the street in areas that are not designated crosswalks or pedestrian lanes.