MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is bracing for the surge of passengers who will return to their provinces for Christmas starting December 22, MMDA Acting Chairman Romando Artes said on Monday.
According to Artes, MMDA personnel will be deployed in different transportation hubs in the country.
“Ang pinaghahandaan nalang po natin ay ‘yung sa December 22 na ine-expect po namin magsisimula po ‘yung uwian sa probinsya ng ating mga kababayan,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the “LAB for All: Christmas for All” gift-giving project in Mandaluyong City.
(What we are preparing for now is the expected start of the public’s exodus to the provinces starting December 22.)
“Ang babantayan po natin dyan mga pier, airports, at mga bus terminal,” he added.
(We will be monitoring the piers, airports, and bus terminals.)
Artes also said that the MMDA, along with the Philippine National Police, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, will conduct drug testing on drivers on December 21.
In the same ambush interview, DILG Secretary Benjamin “Benhur” Abalos, Jr. said that the police are ready and on alert for the possible increase in crimes as Christmas Day nears.
The Bureau of Fire Protection is also on standby for any fire that might arise from firecrackers.
Possible transport assistance for mall workers
When asked if the MMDA would provide free rides to mall workers who would not be able to make it to the last trips of trains and buses due to extended mall hours, Artes said that the agency would coordinate with the Transportation Department.
“We’ll coordinate po sa Department of Transportation para po ma-extend ‘yung operating hours ng mga MRT…tska dun po sa providers…lalung-lalo na sa bus carousel para po may masakyan ang ating mga kababayan,” he said.
(We’ll coordinate with the Department of Transportation so that the operating hours of the MRTs can be extended…as well as with the providers…especially the bus carousel, so that commuters can have a ride.)
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