The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the local governments of Pasig, Marikina, Antipolo, and Cainta signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen traffic and transport management along Marcos Highway and jointly ease congestion.

MMDA Chairman Don Artes led the signing on Wednesday, Aug. 26, at the agency's headquarters in Pasig City. He was joined by Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Marikina City Mayor Marjorie Ann “Maan” Teodoro, Cainta Mayor Atty. Keith Nieto, and Antipolo City Mayor Casimiro Ynares III.

The partnership aims to establish a unified approach to managing traffic congestion, clearing road obstructions, and addressing other concerns along Marcos Highway, which cuts across several jurisdictions.

Under the agreement, the MMDA and the partnered LGUs will prioritize the continuous clearing of Marcos Highway within their respective jurisdictions.

They will remove obstructions, illegally parked or stalled vehicles, unauthorized terminals and structures, as well as ambulant vendors and peddlers occupying sidewalks and other public spaces that impede the free flow of traffic.

The mayors expressed support for the initiative, underscored its importance, and thanked the agency for leading the effort.

“The portion of Marcos Highway within Pasig is only about 70 meters. We are very thankful to the MMDA, especially under the leadership of Chairman Artes, for this initiative,” Sotto said.

“I thank the MMDA for taking the lead on this effort," Nieto said.

“This is a good effort to unify traffic management. It would be a great help for Marikina,” Teodoro said.

“Mahalaga ang tuloy-tuloy na coordination dahil iisang corridor lang ang ginagamit ng libo-libong motorista araw-araw. Kung magkakaugnay ang traffic schemes ng bawat LGU, mas maayos nating mapapadaloy ang trapiko at mababawasan ang congestion (Continuous coordination is important because thousands of motorists use the same corridor every day. If the traffic schemes of each LGU are aligned, we can manage traffic more efficiently and reduce congestion),” she added.

MMDA said the agreement was prompted by the severe traffic congestion experienced along Marcos Highway on December 6, 2025, when motorists endured a traffic standstill lasting nearly six hours, with some experiencing prolonged delays until the early hours of December 7.

Following the incident, MMDA officials and traffic management heads from Antipolo, Cainta, Marikina, and Pasig met at the agency’s headquarters on Dec. 9, 2025, to discuss traffic adjustments and measures to prevent similar incidents.

Meanwhile, Ynares said the partnership was timely as the MMDA is set to begin Phase 1 of its P500-million drainage project along Marcos Highway in September, which is expected to affect traffic flow in the area.

“Kapag may proyekto, hindi puwedeng kanya-kanya. Sa pagkakataong ito, MMDA ang mangunguna sa traffic management sa Marcos Highway habang nakasuporta ang mga local na pamahalaan na sakop ng MMDA drainage project Pasig-Marikina-Cainta-Antipolo (When there is a major project, agencies cannot work independently. In this case, the MMDA will lead traffic management along Marcos Highway, with the local governments of Pasig, Marikina, Cainta, and Antipolo providing support in areas covered by the MMDA drainage project),” he said.