MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the National Capital Region Police Office are set to deploy a total of 2,681 personnel on major thoroughfares, major transport hubs, and key areas in the metropolis to ensure the safe and smooth flow this Lenten season as part of its Oplan Metro Alalay Semana Santa 2022.
According to a statement sent Thursday, enforcers with the MMDA, the Philippine National Police, and local government units’ traffic bureaus will focus on entry and exit points to and from Metro Manila including the North Luzon Expressway, South Luzon Expressway, Coastal Road, McArthur Highway, Mindanao Avenue, and A. Bonifacio until April 18
“Majority of the traffic personnel will be assigned to roads leading to provincial bus terminals, seaports, airports, and major churches, to ensure the safety of thousands of commuters expected to travel to nearby provinces to take advantage of the long Holy Week break,” said MMDA Chairman Romando Artes.
The agency will also assign traffic enforcers on frequently-visited churches like Redemptorist Church (Parañaque), Sto. Domingo (Quezon City), San Agustin (Intramuros), and Quiapo (Manila).
"These contingency measures are aimed to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and meaningful observance of Lent," Artes stressed.
The MMDA has declared a “no day-off and no absent policy” for all traffic and field personnel when traffic is expected to be congested due to the Holy Week exodus.
Artes announced the suspension of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program or the number coding scheme in the National Capital Region starting April 14 (Maundy Thursday) until April 15 (Good Friday), which are declared as holidays.
The MMDA Roadside 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.