THE Metro Manila Development Authority is set to deploy 1,500 traffic auxiliaries from various local government offices in the National Capital Region to assist the agency in managing the anticipated monstrous traffic during the holiday season.
In a press briefing held on Friday, MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. said he sought the assistance of city administrators and local traffic bureau officials in Metro Manila about fielding traffic auxiliaries to help ease traffic, with the number of vehicles increasing by as much as 20 percent during the holiday rush.
“We need to boost the manpower all over the metropolis. Eighty traffic auxiliaries per city will help manage traffic in critical areas,” said Garcia.
The focus of their deployment would be on national roads, Mabuhay Lanes and its adjoining roads and other traffic-congested thoroughfares effective Nov. 16.
Garcia called on the traffic officials to issue citation tickets on illegal parking violators and those obstructing the roads.
He also asked the LGU representatives to strictly implement the one-side parking to ease traffic in their localities.
Representatives from local government units of Mandaluyong, Makati, Pateros, Pasay, Marikina, Navotas, Malabon, San Juan, Caloocan, Muntinlupa, Pasig, and Las Piñas attended the meeting held at the MMDA headquarters on Thursday.
Garcia acknowledged that traffic was getting heavier on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue and other major roads leading to commercial establishments as the Yuletide season draws near.
Since Nov. 5, shopping mall operators on Edsa have started adjusting their mall operating hours, opening at 11 am, an hour late from their original 10 am schedule.
Other traffic mitigating measures initiated under the leadership of MMDA chairman Danilo Lim concerning malls are prohibition of weekday sales and limitation of delivery for non-perishable goods at night-time.
The moratorium on road diggings and repairs has also started on Nov. 5. Only government flagship projects and emergency projects are exempted from the suspension.