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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Medical teams, security personnel sent to NCR transportation hubs as Holy Week exodus begins

Medical teams, security personnel sent to NCR transportation hubs as Holy Week exodus begins

Published Mar 24, 2024 07:39 am

Teams of medical personnel will be deployed in various transportation hubs in Metro Manila in anticipation of the influx of thousands of people who are expected to go to their home provinces to take advantage of the long Holy Week break.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Don Artes said the medical personnel from various government agencies will be on standby along with ambulances to provide medical care and first-aid.

“We will have our full deployment in MMDA. Our agency is prepared to cope with the expected influx of passengers for this year’s observance of the Lenten season,” said Artes after an inter-agency meeting in preparation for the Holy Week exodus. 

Artes said the MMDA will deploy at least 2,274 personnel on various major roads, transportation hubs, and other key areas in the National Capital Region (NCR) to ensure the safety and convenience of the public.

The move, according to him, is aimed at assuring the commuting public of faster turnaround time of public utility vehicles through increased visibility of enforcers for traffic management.

Artes said he already issued a directive for the implementation of “no day-off and no absent policy” for all traffic and other field personnel when heavy traffic is expected due to the Holy Week exodus.

“The MMDA Road Emergency Group will be on standby to provide roadside emergency service and assistance to the general public. Simultaneous sidewalk clearing operations against illegal vendors within the vicinity of major churches will also be conducted,” said Artes.

“Ambulances and tow trucks will be prepositioned along key areas in the metropolis while inter-agency help desks will also be put up where bus terminals and other transport hubs are located,” he added.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier said that it would deploy at least 52,000 uniformed personnel across the country, which will be augmented by around 87,000 personnel from various government agencies. 

More than two million passengers are expected to troop to various ports while at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), around one million passengers are expected during the Holy Week.

Artes said the MMDA will also intensify its efforts against the proliferation of colorum vehicles in the metropolis.

"Passengers should be careful of colorum vehicles that might take advantage of the busy season by overcharging fares," said Artes.

Number coding suspension

On Sunday, March 24, Artes announced that the MMA will suspend the implementation of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or the number coding scheme in Metro Manila starting March 28 (Maundy Thursday) until March 29 (Good Friday).

Both days are regular holidays and traditionally, this means less traffic congestion in Metro Manila as most of the vehicles are en route the provinces.

Road re-blocking 

The Holy Week exodus will also be taken advantage by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and a telecommunications firm to undertake 24-hour road works on major roads in Metro Manila during Holy Week.

Artes said Holy Week break is the best time for the contractors to complete their road works and re-blocking activities since "fewer vehicles are on Metro Manila streets during that period." 

"The clearance for the 24-hour road works aims to strike a balance between maintaining infrastructure and minimizing disruptions and inconvenience to motorists after the significantly religious holidays," said Artes. 

The road works will start on Wednesday, March 27 at 11 pm, and continue round-the-clock until Monday,  April 1 at 5 am. They will be undertaken at the following areas: 

1. Batasan-Commonwealth Tunnel, Filinvest 1 Road to fronting Sandigan (1st lane from plantbox, Quezon City)

2. West Avenue, Ligaya St. to Del Monte Avenue (1st lane from sidewalk), Quezon City

3. Luzon Avenue SB, Congressional Avenue Ext. to before Luzon Flyover (1st lane from center), Quezon City

4. Commonwealth Avenue, Landbank to Elliptical Road (3rd lane from sidewalk), Quezon City

5. Mindanao Avenue, Tandang Sora Avenue to Longines St. (truck lane), Quezon City

6. Mindanao Avenue Tunnel to Sauyo Road (truck lane), Quezon City 

7. Payatas Road, Batasan Road to Bayanihan St., Quezon City

8. Payatas Road between Singko St. & Leyte St., Quezon City

9. Payatas Road before Maynilad Pumping Station to Petron Gas Station (1st lane from sidewalk), Quezon City 

10. IBP-San Mateo Road, Quezon City 

11. Roxas Boulevard NB between Lourdes St. & Vicente Sotto St., Pasay City

12. Roxas Boulevard NB between Remedios St. & Pasaje Del Carmen St., Pasay City

13. Roxas. Boulevard EDSA Flyover SB bridge approach (outer lane & inner lane), Pasay City

14. South Super Highway East Service Road, Parañaque City

15. EDSA NB Guadalupe before bridge (3rd lane), Makati City 

16. EDSA NB Guadalupe P. Burgos St. near Jollibee and McDonald's (4th lane), Makati City

17. EDSA NB Guadalupe JP Rizal Ext. (2nd lane), Makati City

18. EDSA NB Guadalupe JP Rizal Ext. near Stoplight (2nd lane), Makati City 

The affected roads will be fully passable by 5 am on Monday, April 1. 

Related Tags

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