MANILA — Provincial buses will be exempted from the number coding on March 23 to allow faster travel of passengers going home to the provinces this coming Holy Week, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced.
In an interview with reporters on Tuesday, MMDA Traffic Discipline Office (TDO) head Cris Saruca said influx of passengers traveling to the provinces would likely be heaviest on this date.
With the number coding exemption for provincial buses, “those traveling to the provinces will be able to maximize the number of provincial buses plying to and from Manila,” Saruca explained.
Asked about the lifting of the number coding for city buses and other vehicles in the metro for the Holy Week, the MMDA TDO head said the agency has not decided on the dates. However, he said the MMDA would announce final details on Wednesday during a meeting with traffic enforcers of various local government units in Metro Manila.
Saruca said the Holy Week would be a time of light traffic for Metro Manila as most people would be headed for the provinces. “But roads going to the north and south will be congested,” he said, advising the public on the heavy volume of vehicles along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEx).
He said there might be traffic in some parts of Magallanes, Quirino Avenue, and Osmeña Avenue going to SLEx and Balintawak, A. Bonifacio, Mindanao Avenue and Visayas Avenue going to NLEx.
“We will be deploying more traffic enforcers in those areas,” he said but noted that the total number of enforcers to be deployed has not been finalized.
Saruca said the MMDA would meet with LGUs on Wednesday, and coordinate with their counterparts in various cities for the Oplan Metro Alalay Semana Santa.
“Based on our experience from the Papal Visit, we are tapping the help of the LGUs when it comes to special events or celebrations in the metro,” he explained.
More MMDA personnel will also be deployed in areas near churches, bus terminals and along major roads for roadside and emergency assistance, according to Saruca.
As for the roadworks, Saruca said the Department of Public Works and Highways would likely request for clearance to do road works and take advantage of the holidays when there would be much less traffic and people movement in Metro Manila. SFM