The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has deployed 1,800 enforcers in preparation for the bulk of motorists and commuters flocking in the Metro’s major thoroughfares, terminals and airports this Holy Week vacation.
MMDA Spokesperson Celine Pialago said all their units have been deployed for 24 hours, some of them roving, while others were stationed in major bus terminals, airports, and roads.
Pialago said the bulk of passengers and motorists are expected to ply the roads on the way to provinces this Wednesday afternoon until Thursday noon.
The MMDA official has likewise warned against bus drivers who continue to violate their “nose-in, nose-out” policy.
The policy mandates buses whose terminals are located along Edsa to go into and out of the terminal front-end first, instead of backing up or maneuvering on Edsa.
“Ang number one na problema parin natin yung hindi pagsunod sa nose-in, nose-out policy… strict implementation tayo dyan. Lahat po ng terminals may mga enforcers dahil yun po nagiging dahilan ng pagbigat (ng daloy ng trapiko),” Pialago said in an interview.
(The number one problem is still those who don’t follow the nose-in, nose-out policy… we have a strict implementation on that. All the terminals will have enforces because that is the reason of heavy traffic.)
She also warned that the MMDA continues to strictly implement its anti-colorum campaign and its random alcohol-testing among drivers.
“Kung talaga pong kolorum kahit Holy Week iniimpound parin po,” she said.
(If the vehicle is colorum even during Holy Week, we will impound it.)
Pialago said if 0.01 level of alcohol would be detected from drivers and their assistants, they would be prohibited from driving.
“Kapag 11:00 ng gabi uminom mababasa pa ho yan hanggang 7:00 a.m.,” she said.
(If they drink at 11:00 p.m., it will still be detected until 7:00 a.m.)
Meanwhile, Araneta Bus Station General Manager Ramon Legazpi reminded passengers to limit the number of their baggage and refrain from bringing prohibited materials into the bus ports, such as flammable materials, firearms, as well as livestocks.
Legazpi also advised commuters to buy their tickets one to two weeks ahead of their scheduled travel to prevent lining up at their ticketing booths or becoming a chance passenger.
He also appealed for the cooperation of passengers with the inspection of their baggage.
“We really need to inspect yung kanilang mga bagahe kaya hinihingi namin ng paumanhin ‘yung mga pasaherong maaring mainip dahil sa pag-inspeksyon ng kanilang mga bagahe for security purposes lang naman,” he said in an interview.
(We really need to inspect their baggage so we are asking for passengers’ patience if they get tired of waiting because this inspection is for their security.
“At good thing meron tayong mga tauhan ng mga pulis ng Philippine National Police, we have coast guard, army, at red cross para sa masama ang pakiramdam so they’re all here to serve the riding public,” he added.
(It’s a good thing that we have police, the coast guard, the army, and the red cross for those who feel ill, so they’re all here to serve the riding public.) /je