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Friday, March 29, 2024

MMDA, PNP gear up for holiday season

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The Christmas rush will add 10 percent to 20 percent to the current traffic volume, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reported.

The MMDA also said it will conduct road cleaning operations in various Christmas shopping centers in Metro Manila, including Dapitan Arcade in Quezon City, Dagupan St., Tondo, and Divisoria, Manila.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) meanwhile said police personnel will not be allowed to go on leave for the Christmas season as part of heightened security measures for the occasion.

PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said all applications for leave from Dec. 15 to Jan. 10 next year would be canceled, pursuant to PNP chief, Gen. Rodolfo Azurin Jr.’s, order for increased police presence and visibility for the holiday season.

Fajardo also said policemen will be out in the streets to do patrols, including personnel rendering administrative duty in offices.

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Among security measures to be implemented is the deployment of patrol teams to churches to prevent petty criminals and gangs from causing trouble to churchgoers.

The PNP also advised churchgoers not to bring jewelry and large amounts of money lest they attract the attention of muggers and thieves.

Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Norman Tansingco meanwhile vowed to prioritize overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) traveling in and out of the country this holiday season.

According to Tansingco, they have recently rolled out the latest update of their Border Control Information System (BCIS), which is the centralized database of all travel records of incoming and outgoing passengers.

Apart from faster processing, the system also allowed BI officers to immediately verify and intercept fake OECs upon presentation by illegal recruitment and human trafficking victims.

He added that majority of the technical glitches previously encountered have been resolved, and they are in continuous communication with the DMW regarding improvements they can implement on the system.

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