Marikina City Mayor Maan Teodoro on Monday, Dec. 15, directed the Office of Public Safety and Security (OPSS) to strictly enforce security and traffic measures in anticipation of the influx of people to malls and other places of convergence in the city this Christmas season.

“Inatasan natin ang OPSS, ang traffic enforcers na ayusin ang daloy ng mga sasakyan. Inaatasan po natin ang ating OPSS na magtalaga ng mga enforcer sa mga critical areas, lalo na sa mga papasok at palabas ng ating lungsod pati na rin ang intersection areas kung saan nararanasan ang minsan’y gridlock (We have assigned OPSS, the traffic enforcers, to regulate the flow of vehicles. We are assigning our OPSS to assign enforcers to critical areas, especially in the city's entry and exit points, as well as intersection areas where gridlock is sometimes experienced)," Teodoro said.

She also underscored the importance of implementing data-driven traffic adjustments to ensure the ease of travel and mobility of vehicles and commuters.

“Halimbawa po sa kanto ng D. Mariano at J.P. Rizal, may mga report tayong natatanggap na kahit hindi rush hour, umaabot ng 25 hanggang 30 minutes bago makarating sa bahagi ng Farmers 1 ang mga sasakyang galing sa Nangka (For example, at the corner of D. Mariano and J.P. Rizal, we are receiving reports that even during regular hours, it takes 25 to 30 minutes for vehicles coming from Nangka to reach Farmers 1 area)," she noted.

The mayor also ordered the stricter enforcement of loading and unloading regulations and tougher action against illegal parking to ease congestion during the holiday season.

“Hindi po ito para makaabala, kundi para pangalagaan ang oras, kaligtasan, at maayos na galaw ng araw-araw na buhay ng bawat taga-Marikina, lalo na ngayong Christmas rush (These measures are not meant to be disruptive, but to preserve the time, safety, and smooth flow of the daily lives of every Marikina resident, especially during this Christmas rush)," Teodoro noted, adding that the OPSS continuously conducts consultations and trial traffic schemes with vendors, shoppers, and drivers to ensure balance between commerce and convenient mobility.

The local chief executive had also called in the Marikina Police to enhance police visibility and market security to prevent theft incidents.