The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) laid out its traffic management and deployment plan to ensure the safety and convenience of the motorists and commuters during the observance of Holy Week.
MMDA Chairman Don Artes said the agency will implement full deployment of personnel and assets for this year’s Semana Santa with a total of 2,542 field personnel and 468 assets that will be prepositioned on major roads in Metro Manila.
“Our field personnel and assets will be positioned on major thoroughfares leading to transport hubs and key areas in the metropolis to manage traffic flow and guide motorists and commuters.”
“Our field personnel and assets will be positioned on major thoroughfares leading to transport hubs and key areas in the metropolis to manage traffic flow and guide motorists and commuters,” Artes said.
“Our MMDA Communications and Command Center (CCC) at the MMDA Head Office in Pasig City will remain operational 24/7; there is a team tasked to monitor real-time updates through closed-circuit television cameras (CCTVs) on different critical areas across Metro Manila and other activities and situations on the ground,” the traffic chief added.
During the activation of the Oplan Semana Santa 2025 starting April 16, no day-off, no absent policy will be strictly implemented for field traffic personnel.
Skeletal deployment will be enforced on April 18, 19, and 20 to focus on the usual Visita Iglesia sites including the “panata” route going to Antipolo and Grotto.
The MMDA Road Emergency Group will be on standby to provide roadside emergency services while ambulances and tow trucks will be stationed in strategic locations across the metropolis.
Inter-agency support desks will also be set up near bus terminals and other transportation hubs and road emergency personnel will be on standby to provide medical assistance and first aid.
Cleaning and road clearing operations will be conducted to ensure that various roads in Metro Manila are clean and obstruction-free to ensure unimpeded vehicular and pedestrian mobility.
Artes declared that provincial buses will be allowed to traverse EDSA from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on April 9, and from April 16 to 20. They will be allowed to pass through EDSA all day (24 hours) to accommodate the expected influx of passengers going to and from the provinces.
“Provincial buses coming from North Luzon shall end their trips at the bus terminals in Cubao, Quezon City, while provincial buses from South Luzon shall stop their trips at the bus terminals in Pasay City.”
“Provincial buses coming from North Luzon shall end their trips at the bus terminals in Cubao, Quezon City, while provincial buses from South Luzon shall stop their trips at the bus terminals in Pasay City,” he explained.
Road reblocking and repairs will be undertaken on various areas in NCR from 11 p.m. on April 16 until 5 a.m. on April 21. The affected roads will be fully passable by 5 a.m. on Monday, April 21. Announcement as to the areas will be made thru the MMDA official social media accounts.
The Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or the number coding scheme is suspended on April 17 (Maundy Thursday) and April 18 (Good Friday), which are declared holidays.
Authorities also advised commuters to avoid riding out-of-line and “colorum” or unregistered vehicles for their safety and security.
The public may also call the MMDA’s Metrobase Hotline 136 for traffic updates, road assistance, and other inquiries.
Meanwhile, as an offshoot of the isolated incident recently in one of the agency’s clearing operations, Artes ordered the prohibition of vlogging, recording, posting, and other forms of documentation of MMDA operations by its employees during official work hours and by private vloggers as well.
Photos and videos of operations shall be posted by its Public Information Office via Facebook, X, Instagram, etc.
