The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has activated its “Oplan Undas 2023” to ensure the orderliness of this year’s traditional observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on 1 and 2 November, respectively.
MMDA acting Chairperson Atty. Romando Artes said 1,448 traffic enforcers and other personnel from the Traffic Discipline Office, Road Emergency Group, Metro Parkways Clearing Group, and Task Force Special Operations will be deployed in key areas in the metropolis.
Artes said they expect a lot of people to visit cemeteries and memorial parks during All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, so they are taking steps to ensure that traffic is managed smoothly and that everyone is safe.
In addition to “Oplan Undas 2023,” the MMDA has also implemented traffic management measures to alleviate expected heavier traffic congestion during the holidays.
Among the measures is the temporary suspension of excavation activities in Metro Manila effective midnight of 13 November up to midnight of 8 January 2024.
Exempted from the moratorium are flagship projects of the government, bridge repairs and constructions, and flood interceptor catchment projects, among others.
Shopping mall operators will also be required to submit respective traffic management plans to the MMDA for their respective mall sales and other promotional events two weeks before the scheduled dates of such events.
Mall-wide sales shall only be allowed on weekends and the deliveries of shopping mall operators shall only be allowed during nighttime, from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. the following day.
To ensure maximum visibility of traffic enforcers during the holiday season, nighttime duty of traffic enforcers would be extended until 12 midnight, effective 13 November to 8 January.
The MMDA said traffic enforcers were told to avoid kumpulan or grouping and unnecessary use of cellular phones while on duty except when reporting traffic situations or accidents in their areas of assignment.
Traffic management shall be prioritized, the agency stressed. Thus, apprehension of simple moving violations which may cause traffic congestion shall be avoided.