By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan
MANILA, Oct. 29 (PNA) — To ensure a hassle-free commemoration of the All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino on Wednesday has ordered the suspension of the implementation of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or commonly known as the “number-coding” scheme on Oct. 30 (Thursday) and Oct. 31 (Friday) for provincial buses.
At the same time, he stressed that the “nose-in, nose-out” policy on bus terminals will be strictly enforced, thereby prohibiting bus drivers to maneuver their vehicles along EDSA. Also, they are not allowed to load and unload outside their respective terminals.
Tolentino said the UVVRP or Number Coding scheme is suspended for all vehicles, private and public, on Friday (October 31).
He added that the there will be no road reblocking works by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) this weekend to ensure unhampered travel of motorists.
Tolentino said the agency will deploy 2,500 personnel which are composed of clean-up crew in public cemeteries, medical teams and traffic enforcers from Oct. 27 to Nov. 3 starting 8:00 a.m. for Oplan Kaluluwa.
He said majority of the MMDA traffic enforcers are tasked to ensure the smooth flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic along Metro Manila’s thoroughfares leading to the major cemeteries.
“It’s all systems go for All Saints’ Day. The LGUs (local government units) have already mapped out their rerouting plans, and close coordination is needed to ensure a peaceful and orderly celebration,” Tolentino said after the meetings last Monday with traffic bureau chief of 17 LGUs in NCR held at the MMDA headquarter in Makati City.
Mobile patrol units, traffic enforcers, police personnel and medical teams will be deployed throughout Metro Manila, especially in the large cemeteries and memorial parks, both public and private. Public assistance stations will also be set up at strategic locations.
Aside from the traffic constables and roving teams of the agency’s Traffic Discipline Office (TDO), augmentation personnel from the Anti-Jaywalking Unit and Over Speeding will also be tapped for traffic management purposes.
Members of the Task Force Illegal Terminal, Parking Discipline Group, Towing and Impounding Group will also be fielded to clear major roads and sidewalks of all forms of obstructions, including illegally parked vehicles.
The Road Emergency Group, on the other hand, will set up Public Assistance Centers with tents and ambulances at the four major cemeteries to provide emergency medical services to cemetery goers.
The agency’s Traffic Operations Centers will also monitor traffic conditions around-the-clock and dispatch heavy vehicles, tow trucks and ambulances for any accident or distress calls. (PNA)