Motorists must leave early for Holy Week trip – MMDA

MANILA, Philippines - Motorists leaving for the provinces must leave Metro Manila early to avoid traffic gridlocks, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said yesterday.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino issued the warning as the agency activated its Operation Plan Metro Alalay Semana Santa, its motorist assistance project for the Holy Week.

He said motorists who leave for the provinces on Maundy Thursday may find themselves struggling with traffic jams as the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be repairing and reblocking some portions of EDSA and C-5 Road during that period.

The DPWH will start its road works at midnight on Maundy Thursday (April 2) and finish by Easter Sunday (April 5), Tolentino said.

The MMDA has also suspended the “number coding” scheme on April 1 (Holy Wednesday), April 6 (Monday after Easter Sunday) and April 9 (Araw ng Kagitingan).

The repair works on southbound lanes are along Mindanao Avenue, from Road 8 to North Avenue (first lane); along E. Rodriguez Jr. Avenue / C-5 between Poseidon street and Greenmeadows Avenue (second lane from sidewalk); along EDSA between Connecticut to Guadalupe Bridge, Mandaluyong City; along EDSA from MRT Guadalupe station to Estrella street (fourth and fifth lanes); and along C-5 Road, from Pasig Boulevard to Bagong Ilog Service Road.

The repair projects along northbound lanes are along EDSA, from Guadalupe Bridge to Temple Drive; along C-5 Road from Valle Verde / Resins Inc. to SM Warehouse (second outermost lane); and along EDSA, from Gil Puyat Avenue to Escuela street (fourth and fifth lane).

MMDA Traffic Discipline Office (TDO) chief Crisanto Saruca said the agency’s Oplan Metro Alalay Semana Santa will be in operation until April 6 as the agency expects motorists to head back to Metro Manila. 

Saruca said the MMDA will deploy 2,300 traffic management and road rescue personnel at the various entry and exit points of Metro Manila at the North Luzon Expressway, the South Luzon Expressway, Coastal Road, MacArthur Highway, Marcos Highway, Mindanao Avenue and A. Bonifacio Avenue as well as at various churches, seaports, airports and bus terminals.