MMDA clears traslacion route

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) towed 58 vehicles during an operation yesterday to clear roads along the route of the traslacion or the procession of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.

Most of the vehicles were parked along Carlos Palanca street near the Quiapo Church, which houses the Black Nazarene.

Among the towed vehicles were 13 tricycles; five “toktok,” also called electric tricycles or e-trikes, and four cars, according to the MMDA.

Drivers who were near or inside the towed vehicles were fined P1,500 while owners of unattended parked vehicles were fined P2,000.

The MMDA noted that Carlos Palanca street also serves as a “mabuhay lane” or alternate route for motorists who want to reach Taft Avenue from Quiapo and vice versa.

Personnel from the MMDA’s Special Operations Group-Strike Force, led by acting Chairman Romando Artes, and the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau headed by deputy chief for operations Wilson Chan implemented the road clearing efforts along the traslacion route.

Artes also said 850 MMDA personnel would be deployed to “provide traffic and emergency assistance before, during, and after the activities” for the traslacion.