The Police-Highway Patrol Group will return to assist the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority in managing traffic along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue to ease road congestion in the area this Christmas season.
HPG National Capital Region commander Col. Oliver Sy Tanseco said his unit was redeploying its 250 patrollers back to the 23.8-km highway with the program dubbed ‘Enhanced Campaign Plan EDSA’ beginning Nov. 8.
“The distinctive Hagad-HPG will be deployed to ensure the safety and security of motorists and other road users along EDSA,” he said.
Tanseco said the patrollers would also address street crime committed by motorcycle riders in line with the directive of President Rodrigo Duterte to the National Police to stop crimes committed by criminals using motorcycles.
“All police personnel were deputized by the Land Transportation Office and MMDA for traffic law enforcement and will be providing first aid and basic engine troubleshooting assistance to our motorist,” he said.
Tanseco also said a refresher training of personnel on relevant traffic laws would be given to all personnel including COVID-19 Safety Protocol when responding to any emergencies.
The MMDA agreed to the plan for having additional personnel to man traffic in the area as the holiday season draws near.
Records showed that traffic volume along EDSA rises 15 to 20 percent between November and December.
The HPG took over from the MMDA the traffic control on EDSA in September 2015 following the directive of then President Benigno Aquino III, who believed that the presence of armed traffic enforcers would make a big difference.
Aquino came up with the idea after observing that the MMDA could not solve the road congestion along the highway from Monumento Circle in Caloocan City to President Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard in Pasay City.