THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) deployed around 1,500 traffic enforcers in preparation for the October 30-Barangay and SK elections and the commemoration of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, the director of the agency’s Traffic Enforcement Group said on Saturday.
“Since Thursday ay nag-ikot na ho kami sa mga selected provincial terminals and ang MMDA po aside from na-deploy na 1,448 na traffic enforcers ay mayroon din ho kaming mga dineploy na mga Metro Park Clearing Group. Ito po iyong mga street sweepers na dineploy po sila sa five major cemeteries dito sa buong Kalakhang Maynila,” Victor Nuñez, the Director of MMDA’s Traffic Enforcement Group said in a news forum in Quezon City.
“Also, we have Road Emergency Group – naka-preposition po iyong mga ambulance and road emergency vehicles just in case may mga aksidente, iyong mga vehicles na iyon ay may mga extrication equipment na naka-preposition po sa mga major thoroughfares.”
Nuñez added that he and MMDA Chairman Don Artes will do the rounds this Saturday in Metro Manila’s terminals to make sure that everything is in order particularly as more people are rushing home to the provinces for the long weekend.
The MMDA official also reported that heavy traffic was observed last Friday in South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Skyway, as motorists started traveling to the provinces.
“Talagang aside from mga biyahero na pumupunta sa ports, airports and bus terminals, marami rin ho talagang nagdala ng mga private vehicles papunta o pauwi sa kani-kanilang mga probinsiya. Kaya siguro kahapon marami nang nag-half day kaya buhos na po iyong mga sasakyan sa mga expressway palabas ng Metro Manila,” Nuñez said.
Heavier traffic condition was also observed near the airports and seaports, the MMDA official said, advising people to be more patient, plan, and go to those facilities ahead of time.
“Paalala natin sa publiko – make sure that you have enough time or leeway kung kayo ay pupunta sa pantalan, sa mga bus terminals and airports kasi ho talaga sa dami ng mga umuwi ngayon, we would expect na talagang tutukod ang traffic lalung-lalo na doon sa malalapit sa airports and bus terminals,” Nuñez said.
