The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said yesterday that there would be no let up in the enforcement of traffic rules and in the anti-littering and anti-jaywalking campaign even during the traditional observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days on November 1 and 2.
Tim Orbos, MMDA officer in charge, said 2,886 personnel, composed of traffic enforcers, towing and clearing group, and cleanup crews, will be deployed all over the metropolis during the activation of “Oplan: Kaluluwa” from October 28 to November 2.
“Personnel will be fielded on thoroughfares to clear major roads and sidewalks of all forms of obstructions and ensure smooth flow of traffic,” said Orbos.
Orbos said that the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic met yesterday afternoon to ensure a peaceful and orderly All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days.
I-ACT officials have agreed that mobile patrol units, police personnel, and medical teams will be deployed throughout Metro Manila, especially in the large cemeteries and public and private memorial parks. Public assistance stations will also be set up in strategic locations.
Under the agency’s tight watch are four major cemeteries – the Manila North, Manila South, and Loyola Memorial Park in Manila, and Manila Memorial Park in Parañaque City.
Priority traffic choke points are the bus terminals at the Araneta Center, Cubao, Quezon City; EDSA-Cubao; EDSA-Taft, and Sampaloc, Manila; EDSA-Balintawak, Dangwa, and Mindanao Ave.
To minimize illegally parked vehicles, the Parking Discipline Group, Towing, and Impounding Group will work hand in hand to clear major roads and sidewalks of all forms of obstructions.
Oplan: Kaluluwa is an all-out effort of the I-ACT, in coordination with other national government agencies and local government units in Metro Manila, to maintain order in the roads on All Saints’ Day and assist the public going to and from public cemeteries. (Anna Liza Villas-Alavaren)
