Acting Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., on Friday said he will discuss with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) the possibility of deploying more personnel to assist in traffic management amid the ongoing rehabilitation of EDSA.
He said this is among the proactive steps to reduce the adverse effects of the rehabilitation works on motorists and commuters during the project’s implementation.
The rehabilitation works include concrete reblocking and asphalt overlaying, which are anticipated to cause traffic gridlocks as EDSA is one of the busiest roads in Metro Manila with hundreds of thousands of vehicles passing on a daily basis.
While MMDA personnel and local government units are expected to deploy their own personnel, Nartatez said their territorial units and the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) could serve as augmentation at strategic points along EDSA and key alternative routes.
“We expect heavy traffic, and we are ready to assist in terms of manpower for traffic management and other peace and order-related concerns, including road rage that could be prevented with the visible presence of our personnel,” the acting PNP chief said.
Concrete reblocking and asphalt overlay began at 11 p.m. on December 24, and the following day, the effects on traffic became visible.
The DPWH has already released schedules of the rehabilitation works, and the PNP is urging motorists to plan their trips.
Nartatez also emphasized the PNP’s commitment to supporting government initiatives while minimizing disruption to daily commuters.
Rapid deployment teams will be on standby to respond to accidents, vehicle breakdowns, or other emergencies.
In addition, the PNP will maximize the use of CCTV monitoring, traffic sensors, and traffic apps to track congestion and provide timely advisories to the public.
Motorists are encouraged to follow official PNP and MMDA channels for updates and plan their travel accordingly.
