STARTING today, April 8, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), in coordination with the Philippine National Police National Capital Region Police Office (PNP-NCRPO) and various local government units, traffic bureaus and other government agencies, will activate its Oplan Metro Alalay Semana Santa 2022 (Oplan MASS 2022).
Under MMDA’s Oplan MASS 2022, a total of 2,681 personnel will be deployed starting today until April 18 on major thoroughfares, major transport hubs, and key areas in the metropolis to ensure the safe and smooth flow this Lenten season.
“Majority of the traffic personnel will be assigned to roads leading to provincial bus terminals, seaports, airports, and major churches, to ensure the safety of thousands of commuters expected to travel to nearby provinces to take advantage of the long Holy Week break,” said MMDA chairman Atty. Romando Artes.
Focus of the operations will also be on entry and exit points to and from Metro Manila such as North Luzon Expressway, South Luzon Expressway, Coastal Road, McArthur Highway, Mindanao Avenue, and A. Bonifacio.
Likewise, the agency will also assign traffic enforcers on frequently-visited churches like Redemptorist Church (Parañaque), Sto. Domingo (Quezon City), San Agustin (Intramuros), and Quiapo (Manila).
:These contingency measures are aimed to ensure a peaceful, orderly and meaningful observance of Lent,” Artes clarified.
MMDA has also declared a ‘no day-off and no absent policy’ for all traffic and other field personnel, when traffic is expected to be congested due to the Holy Week exodus. The Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), or number coding scheme, have likewise been suspended in the National Capital Region starting April 14 (Maundy Thursday) until April 15 (Good Friday), which are regular holidays.
Finally, Artes disclosed that the MMDA’s Roadside Emergency Group will be on standby to provide roadside emergency service and assistance to the general public. Simultaneous sidewalk clearing operations against illegal vendors within the vicinity of major churches will also be conducted.
