HPG gets new posting after Edsa

The HPG moves on… to C5, Commonwealth and Naia Expressway.

Starting today (Monday), members of the Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group (HPG) will be deployed to C5 Road, Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City and Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Expressway.

“This is to address the traffic problem and ensure the safe travel of motorists and road users in these areas,” HPG head Chief Supt. Antonio Gardiola Jr. said in a statement.

According to him, the deployment was agreed upon
following a coordination meeting of the government’s Inter-Agency Council on Traffic
(I-Act).

“It’s part of the plans of the council to ensure the smooth flow of traffic not only on Edsa but also on other national and arterial roads that affect Edsa traffic,” Gardiola added.

The HPG earlier pulled out about 90 percent of its men who were deployed to Edsa after traffic management supervision over the busy thoroughfare returned to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) earlier this month.

Those pulled out, numbering around 300, will be assigned to direct traffic flow on the three major thoroughfares.

The I-Act council is chaired by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, with Gardiola as chief traffic officer.

The announcement was made after Tugade and other
I-Act officials attended a thanksgiving fellowship and an awarding ceremony at the PNP-HPG headquarters in Camp Crame, Quezon City, on Saturday.

The PNP-HPG became the lead agency on Edsa traffic management in September 2015 under the orders of then President Benigno Aquino III. The change in supervision was effected due to the worsening traffic situation and also in preparation for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit meeting held in Manila last year.

With the approach of the holiday season, authorities have opened up alternate roads also known as “Christmas lanes” to ease vehicular flow in the metropolis.

The MMDA also announced that it would strictly enforce the use of the motorcycle lanes on Edsa, Commonwealth Avenue, Macapagal Boulevard and C5 Road starting today.

The move aims to instill discipline among riders and prevent them from weaving in and out of traffic. They can stray from the motorcycle lanes only when making a turn and after making the appropriate signal.

Violators, MMDA General Manager Tim Orbos warned, would be fined P500.