THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will activate its Oplan Metro Alalay Semana Santa 2022 (Oplan M.A.S.S. 2022) starting tomorrow, April 8, 2022.
This initiative is being done by the MMDA in coordination with the Philippine National Police – National Capital Region Police Office (PNP – NCRPO) and various local government units, traffic bureaus, and other government agencies,
Under the plan, around 2,681 personnel will be deployed from April 8 until April 18, 2022 and spread out on major thoroughfares, transport hubs, and key areas in the metropolis to ensure the safe and smooth flow of traffic this Lenten season.
“Majority of the traffic personnel will be assigned to roads leading to provincial bus terminals, seaports, airports, and major churches, to ensure the safety of thousands of commuters expected to travel to nearby provinces to take advantage of the long Holy Week break,” MMDA Chairman Atty. Romando Artes said.
Focus of the operations will also be on entry and exit points to and from Metro Manila such as North Luzon Expressway, South Luzon Expressway, Coastal Road, McArthur Highway, Mindanao Avenue, and A. Bonifacio.
Likewise, the agency will also assign traffic enforcers on frequently-visited churches like Redemptorist Church (Parañaque), Sto. Domingo (Quezon City), San Agustin (Intramuros), and Quiapo (Manila).
“These contingency measures are aimed to ensure a peaceful, orderly, and meaningful observance of Lent,” Artes stressed.
MMDA has declared a “no day-off” and “no absent policy” for all traffic and other field personnel since traffic is expected to be congested due to the Holy Week exodus.
Moreover, Artes announced the suspension of the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or the number coding scheme in the National Capital Region starting April 14 (Maundy Thursday) until April 15 (Good Friday), which are declared as national holidays.
The MMDA Roadside Emergency Group will be on standby to provide roadside emergency service and assistance to the general public. Simultaneous sidewalk clearing operations against illegal vendors within the vicinity of major churches will also be conducted.