The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will take steps to ensure law and order during the traditional observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
MMDA acting chairman Carlo Dimayuga III said he would send out 1,500 personnel from the agency’s Traffic Discipline Office, the Road Emergency Group, the Metro Parkways Clearing Group, and the Task Force Special Operations to strategic locations in Metro Manila in line with their “Oplan Undas 2022” from October 28 until November 2.
Complementing the MMDA enforcers are over 1,000 policemen who will be deployed to Manila North Cemetery and other cemeteries in Manila, Manila Police District (MPD) director Brig. Gen. Andre Dizon said.
“The MMDA is all set to undertake measures on traffic management, cleanup operations, road emergency and public assistance, and clearing of road obstructions in preparation for Undas,” Dimayuga said following his surprise inspection in bus terminals in Cubao, Quezon City on Tuesday.
Dimayuga reiterated that provincial buses are only allowed to utilize the designated back door exits to avoid traffic gridlock on Epifanio de los Santos Ave.
Among the bus terminals Dimayuga inspected were Five Star and Baliwag Transit located along EDSA.
“The agency is providing traffic assistance to ensure faster turnaround of buses,” Dimayuga said.
Aside from bus terminals, traffic personnel will also be deployed to major roads leading to cemeteries and transportation hubs as thousands are expected to travel to the provinces to pay respect to their departed loved ones.
The MMDA men will also focus their operations on entry and exit points to and from Metro Manila.
“No day off, no absent policy will be enforced among traffic enforcers for Undas,” Dimayuga said.
The Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program or number coding scheme is suspended on October 31; and November 1 (All Saints’ Day), both special non-working holidays.
The Road Emergency Group will set up public assistance centers with tents and ambulances to provide assistance and rescue services in Metro Manila’s five major cemeteries, namely Manila North Cemetery, South Cemetery, Loyola Memorial Park, Bagbag Public Cemetery, and San Juan Public Cemetery.
Sidewalk and road clearing groups are tasked to remove all forms of obstructions on major roads, particularly those leading to cemeteries.
Members of the Metro Parkways Clearing Group will be in charge of maintaining the cleanliness in the vicinity of cemeteries and memorial parks.
The Metrobase Command Center and Digital Media Group are tasked to monitor traffic situations in the metropolis, addressing public concerns and providing real-time traffic updates.
Dizon said motorcycle patrols will also be mobilized to monitor the situation around Manila.
“We must be alert to avoid becoming a victim of bad people. Bringing of bladed materials, cards or gambling equipment, alcohol, and playing loud music are prohibited (inside the cemeteries),” Dizon said.
The MMDA said owners of towed vehicles would have to pay a P2,000-fine for first offense, and additional P200 fine per kilometer of towing. The owners would also have to shoulder P80-fine per day for the storage of their towed vehicles.
In Cagayan de Oro City, at least 600 policemen will be manning the 12 cemeteries and other public places from October 28 to November 2.
There will be checkpoints to inspect prohibited items such as liquor and pointed objects. People are also not allowed to wear caps, shades, and hoodies, and stay overnight in cemeteries, the report said
In General Santos City, the local government said it will use the occasion to ramp up its COVID-19 vaccination drive by putting up vaccination sites in cemeteries.
“We will put the vaccination station where the first aid station is. We are bringing the vaccines closer to the people,” City Health Office head Dr. Jett Co said.
The public and security forces have started their preparations a week before the observance of All Saints’ Day on November 1.
Province-bound passengers were already flocking at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) ahead of Undas to avoid the exodus over the weekend.
PITX expects about 150,000 passengers to arrive by Friday.
The PITX was coordinating with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to ensure the safety of passengers, and that there are enough buses to meet the demand.