By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is coordinating with local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila to prepare for Super Typhoon Pepito.

MMDA Public Safety Division Officer-in-Charge Director Crisanto Saruca Jr. said Metro Manila mayors were notified as early as Thursday to prepare for Pepito.

“Ang ating mga Metro Manila mayors ay duly advised na po sa magiging track at naghahanda na rin po sila sa pagdating ng ulan at malalakas na hangin,” Saruca stated.

Saruca mentioned that the MMDA has activated its Emergency Operations Centers and deployed personnel and assets to strategic locations to address emergencies.

“Kahapon (Saturday) naman po nag-open na ang ating emergency operations center dito po sa MMDA. Ready na rin ang ating Public Safety Division personnel and other units, as well as ating rescue and retrieval assets. Naka-position na po dito sa MMDA at magde-deploy na tayo kung kinakailangan po,” he added.

The MMDA has also ensured that all 71 of its pumping stations are fully operational and under close monitoring.

“Unang-una po, sinisigurado ng ating MMDA Chairman na ang 71 pumping stations ay nasa full operational condition at ‘yun naman pong nasira na navigational gate ay naayos na rin po,” he said.

ia/mnm

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced that number coding will not be suspended on Monday during President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA).

MMDA Acting Chairman Romando Artes stated that the decision aims to prevent traffic congestion during the SONA.

“We will not suspend the number coding scheme because if we do, more vehicles will be on the roads, worsening traffic,” he said.

“Any additional vehicles will contribute to congestion,” he added.

Earlier, the MMDA released a traffic rerouting plan for SONA on July 22.

President Marcos previously mentioned that he has completed writing his speech for the third SONA and is currently fine-tuning it, a process expected to continue until Sunday.

The President also noted the challenge of addressing all the issues he wants to discuss, which might extend the duration of his speech.

(el Amigo/mnm)

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Metro Base Charlie Nozares on Saturday (May 4, 2024) said that the adjusted work schedule in local government offices has been helpful to ease the traffic in the National Capital Region (NCR).

“Nakatulong naman ‘yun ng kaunti. Nabawasan ‘yung mabigat na traffic during rush hour kasi hindi na sabay-sabay na bumabiyahe ‘yung mga kababayan natin,” Nozares said in a radio interview.

The new work schedule took effect on May 2.

The Metro Manila Council (MMC), composed of 17 LGUs in Metro Manila, earlier passed a resolution adjusting the working hours from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.

MMC President Francis Zamora said that there are over 100,000 employees in the LGU in NCR.

“Inaasahan po natin na makakatulong ito sa daloy ng trapiko sapagkat ang layunin natin ay umiwas ‘yung 100,000 kawani ng mga pamahalaang lungsod dito po sa Metro Manila sa rush hour,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nozares also said that lesser people are going out due to extreme heat which is also a reason that the traffic eased.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on Thursday (April 18, 2024) ordered the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to extend the grace period of the memorandum banning e-bikes and e-trikes from using the major roads in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Marcos said that MMDA should not yet issue tickets to the violators as they should be given more time to be informed of the said ban.

“Kailangan pang magbigay ng sapat na panahon para sa malawak na pagsisiwalat ng impormasyon hinggil sa ban na ating ipinapatupad,” the President said in a post on X (Twitter).

“Ang sakop ng grace period ay ang hindi pag-ticket, pagmulta at pag-impound ng mge e-trike,” he added.

Enforcers will flag the e-trike and e-bike users as they pass the main roads to inform them of the new mandate and direct them to the routes they are allowed to use.

“Kung paparahin man sila, ito ay upang maayos na maituro ang mga kalsadang maari nilang gamitin, pati na ang pagpapaalala ng mga bagong patakaran na ipinapatupad upang paigtingin ang kaligtasan at kaayusan sa mga langsangan,” the Chief Executive said.

The ban on tricycles, pushcarts, pedicabs, kuligligs, e-bikes, e-trikes, and light e-vehicles (EVs) on major roads in NCR began on April 15.

MMDA started to issue tickets to the violators on April 17. On its first day, a total of 87 vehicles were apprehended.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes said on Monday (April 15, 2024) that the P200,000 reward of Chavit Singson to MMDA officers will be considered as a donation and be placed in the general fund.

“Pupunta po ‘yan sa general fund ng MMDA, hindi po ‘yan idi-distribute sa partikular na tao… Iko-consider po ‘yan na donasyon sa ahensiya, not for a specific purpose,” Artes said in a press briefing.

Despite the donation, the MMDA official assured that there would be no exemption from being ticketed due to traffic violations.

“Wala pong strings attached ‘yan. Hindi ibig sabihin na tinanggap namin ‘yung donasyon ay pwede nang dumaan si Gov. Chavit sa busway. Wala po tayong ganoon. Wala pong exemption diyan. Kung ano lang po ‘yung ino-authorize ng DOTr na gumamit niyan, ‘yun pa rin po, regardless kung nagbigay po sa atin ng donasyon si Governeor ay wala pong special treatment,” Artes said.

Singson increased the amount of the incentive that he gave from P100,000 to P200,000 to the MMDA enforcers who issued violation tickets to his convoys for using busway lane.

The former Ilocos Sur governor also paid the violation tickets issued to his drivers and gave the cash prize worth P200,000 on Monday.

(el Amigo)

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Sunday (April 14, 2024) that it won’t lift the number coding scheme amid transport strike.

“Hindi sususpindehin ang number coding scheme bukas, araw ng Lunes, sa gitna ng tigil pasada na ikakasa ng dalawang transport group na Manibela at Piston,” MMDA said in a post on X.

MMDA said that the number coding scheme will be implemented from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, the agency said that it will be providing free rides to commuters during the transport strike.

“Nakahanda naman ang MMDA, kasama ang iba pang ahensiya ng gobyerno at mga lokal na pamahalaan sa NCR, para magbigay ng libreng sakay sa mga maapektuhang pasahero sakaling kailanganin,” it said.

Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) and Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (Manibela) said that it will be holding transportation strike on Monday as their protest on the modernization program.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio

MANILA — In a joint effort to enhance road safety and fortify the integrity of the vehicle registration system, the House of Representatives and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have officially agreed to apprehend drivers utilizing protocol plates bearing the number ‘8.’

House Secretary General Reginald Velasco, following a meeting with MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Romando Artes announced the collaborative initiative to confiscate expired or spurious plates.

Velasco emphasized the importance of curbing the use of unauthorized special plates, citing their threat to public safety and the potential compromise of the vehicle registration system’s integrity.

In line with this commitment, Velasco previously issued a memorandum mandating the surrender of all old ‘8’ plates, clarifying that no lawmakers in the 19th Congress have been issued such protocol plates.

“The House leadership remains steadfast in upholding the law and ensuring the proper and lawful use of vehicle identification plates,” Velasco stated.

The objective is to eradicate spurious, expired, and fake plates before issuing new ones. The ‘8’ car plate is specifically reserved for vehicles belonging to members of the House.

(ai/mnm)