Palace assures public: Gov’t ready for Yuletide traffic

With the Christmas season just around the corner, Malacañang on Sunday assured that concerned government agencies are bracing for the expected heavy traffic in Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfares.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said members of the Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group deployed along Edsa are aware of the increased commercial activity during the holidays.

“It’s a time of celebration, a time of bustling commercial activity. Alam po ng ating mga ahensya po ang mga concerns po diyan. Nandiyan na po ‘yung traffic na inaayos na rin po ng ating pamahalaan, ating mga HPG po sa Edsa. ‘Yung ating mga [pulis] are very, very cognizant of the normal increase in commercial activities po dito sa mga mall,” Lacierda said over state-run Radyo ng Bayan.

He said the PNP is also coordinating with mall operators to ensure the safety of thousands of mall goers during the Christmas rush.

“Itong mga [pulis] natin are in touch with the mall operators… Some people would like to take advantage of the bustling activity po during the Christmas season. So we are all conscious and cognizant of the attendant concerns pagdating ng Christmas season so handa po ang ating kapulisan, ang ating mga ahensya na tumutulong—ang DTI, ang PNP—lahat po ng ahensya na involved po dito sa preparation for Christmas season in terms of the commercial activities,” he said.

Lacierda said the Department of Tourism will also take the opportunity and initiate efforts to show the world how Christmas is being celebrated in the country.

“We have the longest Christmas season in the world, so it’s a good opportunity for us also to invite our friends from abroad to come visit the Philippines and celebrate Christmas in the Philippines with us,” he said.