MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is ramping up efforts to manage the growing volume of vehicles along major thoroughfares in the National Capital Region during the holiday season.
In a radio interview yesterday, MMDA Special Operations Group Strike Force chief Gabriel Go said traffic congestion in the metropolis has worsened, with vehicle volume steadily increasing since last week.
To address the situation, the MMDA deployed additional personnel to manage traffic flow, especially along EDSA, which is one of the busiest highways in Metro Manila.
“We are extending (our operations) until midnight because mall hours have been extended,” Go said.
Aside from deployment of additional traffic enforcers, the MMDA is conducting regular clearing operations along mabuhay lanes – the designated alternate routes that ease congestion along main roads.
MMDA data showed that 447,000 vehicles are traversing EDSA daily.
The agency is expecting an increase of 10 to 15 percent in vehicle volume, worsening traffic in Metro Manila during the Christmas season.