Excavation works by private companies on major roads in Metro Manila should be synchronized with proper authorities to ensure minimal effect on traffic, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos said.

Abalos met with utility and telecommunication companies Tuesday, April 27 to come up with a more coordinated implementation of road projects and repair works, which more often than not cause inconvenience to motorists.

“The conduct of road diggings, excavations and other similar works should be done harmoniously,” said Abalos.

"The utility companies should conduct works on a particular area synchronously so that road diggings are not done repeatedly, except for emergency repairs,” he stressed.

To achieve this, the private firms were directed to submit an inventory of their respective projects as well as the time lines of their construction activities. They were also told to closely coordinate with the MMDA to ensure that road works in the metropolis are managed efficiently.

The MMDA chief said the companies also need to secure a permit from the concerned local government unit (LGU) and submit a traffic management plan before a road work could start.

“We need to work together. If we can do our projects simultaneously on a certain area, we will execute a single traffic management plan,” Abalos told the private firms.

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia, on the other hand, said the agency also needs to be notified at least three days in advance about a road work so that it can inform the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).

Information and communications technology (ICT) service providers in the country are allowed to undertake excavations and restoration works for ICT infrastructure projects within allowable right-of-way limits of national roads, the MMDA said.