MANILA, Aug. 7 (PNA) — In a bid to improve traffic management, peace and order, and public safety along the entire 23.7-kilometer long Epifanio Delos Santos Ave. (EDSA), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) launched on Friday the combined traffic operatives of the agency’s traffic constables and the Philippine National Police–Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG).
Under the project dubbed as “Tambalan sa EDSA ng MMDA,” Tolentino said some 500 personnel from the agency’s Traffic Discipline Office and Motorcycle and Mobile Patrol Units, together with their PNP-HPG counterparts, will be deployed daily in strategic points along EDSA from Balintawak to Pasay not only to ensure the smooth flow of vehicles but the safety and security of the public as well.
Tolentino said the MMDA also took the move to link up with PNP-HPG personnel to restore orderliness along EDSA following the spate of assaults and bullying incidents on MMDA traffic enforcers recently.
“Finally the PNP, under Police Director General Ricardo Marquez, has acceded to our long-standing request to help us manage traffic and put a stop to this lawlessness being committed against our hapless personnel. They (PNP) will serve as strong deterrent to the unabated disregard for the law being committed by erring motorists against our unarmed enforcers and against criminal elements that prey on pedestrians, commuters and motorists along EDSA,” he said.
Earlier, Tolentino appealed to motorists not to harm their traffic enforcers.
He aired the call after a series of attacks by motorists on some of the MMDA’s traffic constables.
He said the agency’s traffic enforcers also deserve respect as they are just performing their duties in manning traffic in the metropolis.
Traffic constables, he pointed out, are just strictly implementing traffic regulations so they should be spared from any harm.
The following are the strategic areas of concentration for deployment of both MMDA and PNP personnel: Balintawak, North EDSA, Trinoma, Quezon Avenue, Monte De Piedad, Aurora Boulevard, Santolan, Ortigas, Shaw Boulevard, Boni, Guadalupe, Ayala, Magallanes and EDSA-Taft. (PNA)