PNP-HPG starts manning traffic on EDSA together with MMDA

The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group began helping the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in manning the traffic on EDSA on Monday.

Officers from the PNP-HPG joined MMDA personnel in an assembly on EDSA before they began their duty at 5 a.m., according to a report by Bam Alegre on GMA News' Unang Balita.

PNP-HPG will have officers manning the traffic on EDSA from Timog Avenue to Ortigas Avenue intersections and vice versa until 1 a.m.

The collaboration was done to help ease traffic on the major thoroughfare.

Personnel from Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group join MMDA enforcers in manning the traffic on EDSA on Monday, September 9, 2019. GMA News

According to MMDA spokesperson Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago, 43 personnel from PNP-HPG will be deployed on EDSA today.

They will also assist MMDA in clearing operations.

The PNP-HPG will also deploy officers to help out in manning traffic in Balintawak, Roxas Boulevard and other parts of EDSA, Pialago said.

PNP-HPG Traffic Enforcement chief Emmanuel Tabuena told Unang Balita that their officers from the Traffic Direction and Control (TDC) section will help MMDA especially during rush hour.

"Ang Highway Patrol Group ay katulong lang ng MMDA. Nandito pa rin ang tropa nila na 100 magmula dito sa Timog hanggang dito sa Ortigas. Fifty 'yan sa first shift at 50 sa second shift," he said.

"Ngayon naglagay lang tayo ng mga specific na TDC ng Highway Patrol para matulungan natin sila sa paghahatak ng trapiko especially kung rush hour," Tabuena said.

"Gagawin natin 'yung magagawa natin sa tulong ng MMDA para kapag rush hour 'yung volume ng sasakyan mahatak natin dito sa southbound. Usually 'yung problema kasi 'yung mga galing north papuntang Makati," he said.

"In-identify natin 'yung bawat intersection na kailangang tauhan natin para at least mahatak natin ang mga sasakyan simultaneously at madisiplina natin ang mga driver na hindi sumusunod sa batas trapiko lalo na ang mga bus drivers natin," Tabuena said.

Pialago also issued a reminder to motorists that the U-turn slot on EDSA-Main Avenue has been closed on both directions since Tuesday.

Motorists may take the P. Tuazon U-turn slot if northbound, and the Santolan U-turn slot if southbound, she said.

The MMDA earlier said that the usual traffic woes on EDSA every Christmas season has been felt by commuters as early as August.

The traffic flow on EDSA's southbound lane is at 11 kilometers per hour (kph) in the morning while northbound motorists move at an average of 14 kph in the evening.

According to data from the MMDA, the traffic volume in EDSA exceeds its daily vehicle capacity by 601%.

Over 380,000 vehicles are traversing EDSA every day when its actual capacity was only pegged at 54,000.

Cars make up for 66% of the traffic volume, 22% are motorcycles, and 3.48% are buses. —KG, GMA News