The Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (HPG) will beef up its presence on Edsa this month in preparation for two international events being held in the country.
HPG spokesperson Supt. Elizabeth Velasquez on Friday said at least 220 HPG personnel will be deployed on Edsa in time for the Asean Tourism Forum to be held in the capital from Jan. 18 to 25, and the International Eucharistic Congress that will be held in Cebu province on Jan. 24 to 31.
An augmentation force of around 80 men will be coming from Regions I to V, as “we’re expecting traffic to be congested at this time,” Velasquez said in a briefing.
The HPG currently has 183 members reporting in three shifts to help ease traffic on Edsa—just over 10 percent of its total forces nationwide.
They are tasked mainly to man choke points at Balintawak, Trinoma mall, Cubao, Santolan and Ortigas in Quezon City; Shaw in Mandaluyong City; Guadalupe and Ayala in Makati; and in Pasay.