1,000 MMDA enforcers deployed for WEF

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said yesterday it will deploy 1,000 traffic enforcers at key sections of the metropolis for the 23rd World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia, which will be hosted by the Philippines for the first time from tomorrow until Friday.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino also appealed to motorists to avoid roads leading to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC), one of the key venues of the international conference.

Traffic on Gil Puyat Avenue and Roxas Boulevard will be tight between 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. on May 22 as delegates make their way to PICC from the Makati business district, he said.

At least two heads of state and 633 business and civil society leaders from 30 different countries will head to the PICC, Tolentino added.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier said a total of 6,000 police officers will be deployed to secure the forum, which will coincide with the Young Leaders’ Meeting from May 19 to 20 and the 10th Association of Southeast Asian Nations Finance Ministers Investors Seminar on May 21 at the Shangri-La Hotel and Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati City, respectively.

PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima designated deputy chief for operations Deputy Director General Leonardo Espina to head the PNP National Task Force WEF.