Chairman Emerson Carlos of the Metro Manila Development Authority on Saturday urged the public to cooperate and report illegally parked vehicles and other obstruction on major roads through its newly created website Netizens Watch.
“Motorists can take pictures of illegal vendors, basketball courts, gambling tables and other structures, including road diggings and they can post and upload them on our social media,” said Carlos.
The agency launched the social media reporting system in a bid to muster the public and private sectors in reporting to the agency all traffic obstructions on all roads in Metro Manila, especially the 17 Mabuhay Lanes.
Carlos said the report should include the name of the sender and the actual picture including the detailed location where the illegally parked vehicle or the obstruction was spotted and the time it was taken.
The MMDA team tasked to monitor the reports will immediately verify all the information and forward it to the Agency’s Traffic Discipline Office under the supervision of director Crisanto Saruca.
Saruca will then dispatch personnel to clear the area, or instruct contractors to patch the road diggings.
Carlos said the DO will also entertain complaints of extortion committed by erring traffic personnel.
Records showed that traffic volume usually goes up by 25 percent during the holiday season.
A composite team from the MMDA and Highway Patrol Group is scheduled to comb through the Mabuhay Lanes from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily to ensure the routes are free of traffic obstructions.
Based on the regulations, the Mabuhay Lanes should be cleared of any kinds of obstructions 24 hours a day.
The 17 Mabuhay Lanes are alternative routes to the 23.8-kilometer Edsa. These cover the cities of Mandaluyong, San Juan, Makati, Manila, and Quezon City. It also include secondary roads going to shopping destinations in Metro Manila such as Baclaran in Parañaque, Greenhills in San Juan, Divisoria, and Carriedo in Manila.
Last Friday, Carlos thanked officials of the Armed Forces of the Philippines who pledged to provide assistance to help ease traffic in Metro Manila.
Carlos, however, said his agency has not yet coordinated with the AFP regarding the plan.
AFP spokesperson Col. Restituto Padilla said they are willing to deploy men to provide assistance with the Highway Patrol Group and MMDA.