The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) asked private companies to help easing traffic congestion in the metropolis by planning their corporate Christmas parties and activities ahead.
“We appeal to officials of business establishments to spread out their parties, if they can hold them first week of December instead of the traditional last Friday before Christmas day,” said Tim Orbos, MMDA General Manager.
He said traffic is heaviest during last Friday before Christmas due to last-minute shoppers flocking to malls and people traveling to provinces to spend their holiday break.
Orbos advised motorists and the riding public to bear with heavy traffic during the holiday rush as the government seeks ways to alleviate traffic problem that has become their daily agony.
He also admitted that their ideas on traffic will not always be popular and the public may get mad but have to be done.
“Time will come that efficient rail systems are put up, bridges are built and other infrastructure projects are constructed. But for now, we appeal for patience,” said Orbos.
He said the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (IACT), headed by the Department of Transportation (DoTr), is focusing on solutions to reduce the number of private vehicles plying on the Metro roads.
“Almost 80 percent of the roads are occupied by private vehicles so that’s where we are putting much attention to,” said Orbos. (Anna Liza Villas-Alavaren)