Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal expects monstrous traffic on major streets leading to and from the four terminals of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport as the number of air travelers and vehicles started to increase on Friday.
In a meeting, Monreal tapped security managers to address the now observable traffic along major thoroughfares around the airport complex.
He told them to coordinate with the city governments of Pasay and Parañaque, and the Metro Manila Development Authority to reduce inconvenience to motorists and airline passengers who have flights to catch.
Monreal also ordered all time police visibility especially at critical areas in the complex. He said foot patrol at public areas should be round the clock and vigilance of security personnel must be ensured.
“Let us not put our guards down just because Christmas is the season to be jolly. Remember, this is also the time when bad elements take advantage,” Monreal told his security managers.
He also said parking areas should be closely monitored for illegal porters and enterprising individuals posing as airport workers offering help to arriving passengers.
“I want full manning of posts inside the terminals and make sure passenger needs are attended to properly and expeditiously,” Monreal.
The airport chief wants all baggage carousels to be working, giving word to his engineering team to have technicians on standby for any problem that may arise.
Monreal directed the terminal managers to talk to the airline operators and remind them to have their people within reach to attend to passenger concerns relating to their baggage. He also ordered them to make sure that all initial and final security checkpoints inside the terminal are manned especially during peak hours.
Specific instruction was also given to the managers of Terminals 2, 3 and 4 to coordinate with the domestic carriers regarding possible cancellations in the coming days when Typhoon ‘Vinta’ hits ground.
“Talk to the domestic carriers. Tell them to submit their flight plans on time,” Monreal said.
He also emphasized the need for on time departures. “Let us spare our passengers from the agony of waiting for long hours. Respect for other people’s time is what I am driving at.”
Monreal directed his team to make sure that there are contingency plans to employ when challenges come.
At least two million air travellers, including overseas Filipino workers, are expected to arrive in four terminals this month to spend and enjoy their vacations with friends and families this holiday season.
“We expect an increase of 20 percent more to arrive until January 2, 2018,” said Monreal.
Meanwhile, the NLEX Corp. on Friday said it is ready for the anticipated surge in traffic volume at the North Luzon Expressway and Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway this Christmas and New Year holidays.
“It’s all systems go for the rise in traffic volume this Christmas season. Our team has always been prepared to assist our motorists and manage the traffic flow,” Rodrigo Franco, NLEX president and chief executive said.
Since Dec. 16, NLEX-SCTEX Traffic Operations have been on heightened alert and have deployed additional traffic personnel to closely monitor traffic conditions at NLEX Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, Bocaue, San Fernando, Sta. Ines and SCTEX Tarlac and Tipo toll plazas.
Mainline road works will likewise be suspended until January 2, 2018 unless safety repair is required.
During critical hours of Dec. 22, 23, 29, and 30, the NLEX Balintawak Toll Plaza will open 24 toll collection points instead of the usual 18, while the Mindanao Avenue Toll Plaza will increase its toll collection points to 10 from 7. The SCTEX Tarlac Toll Plaza will also have 20 collection points for northbound motorists.
On December 25, the Bocaue Toll Plaza will open 48 toll collection points to accommodate motorists returning to Metro Manila. The setup will be the same on January 1 and 2.
Portabooths and portable toll collection equipment will be used to further increase the capacity of the toll plazas.
NLEX traffic personnel will likewise be ready to assist motorists and manage increased traffic volume brought by several events in the Ciudad de Victoria-Philippine Arena area.
These events include the PBA game on December 25 and the New Year countdown on December 30-31.
Traffic advisories will be relayed to motorists through variable message signs and regular updates on social media.
Towing and emergency medical services will also be augmented to provide quick motorist assistance.
“We are hoping that with all these preparations, we will be able to help lessen the travel time of our motorists so they can spend more quality time with their loved ones,” Franco said.
In a related development, the Metro Manila Development Authority has started sending night shift traffic enforcers in anticipation of heavy traffic in the metropolis, especially along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, four days before Christmas day.
“We have the graveyard shift starting yesterday almost 80-100 personnel, including the mobile patrol unit, motorcycle unit and anti drunk driving, augmented at night,” said MMDA supervising officer for operation Edison Nebrija Jr.
Nebrija said the night shift constables will focus on managing the flow of traffic on critical intersections of EDSA — Balintawak Market Road, Aurora Boulevard, Ortigas Avenue, Shaw Boulevard, Guadalupe, Ayala Avenue and Taft Avenue, and areas near the bus terminals.
“Enforcers at bus terminals in Cubao and Pasay City, the concentrattion is on Cubao because this is a chokepoint, especially on the northbound. The Nose-in Nose-out policy will be strictly implemented now. We will make sure that this will be intensified, we will not stop,” he said.
A total of 2,200 MMDA men will be manning the streets of Metro Manila and “obliged to augment in case there will be a problem. There will be no holiday, no day off, and no absent policy.” Of the 2,200 men, 500 were assigned to EDSA.
MMDA officials admitted that the deployment of 500 personnel to man traffic along EDSA is not enough to handle the volume of vehicles, specially during the holiday rush.
MMDA traffic engineering center chief Noemie Recio said the ideal number of people to control and manage the traffic flow in the National Capital Region is 7,000.
She said EDSA alone needs at least 1,000 traffic personnel to be assigned at seven major chokepoints.
“We need at least 1,000 men along EDSA, that’s the ideal,” Recio said.
