Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 20) — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced Friday that it will deploy 1,448 traffic enforcers for the upcoming All Saints Day and All Souls Day.
“Our personnel will be deployed from October 27 to 31 at [and] November 1 to 6. Mayroon po kaming in-issue na [we issued] no-absent policy sa ating mga [for our] traffic personnel,” MMDA Acting Chairman Romando Artes said in a press briefing.
Artes also said that MMDA will field emergency teams and set up public assistance centers.
Traffic enforcers were directed not to gather in groups during inspections. They were also instructed to not use cellphones while on duty except when reporting traffic incidents.
The Chairman said that “simple traffic violations” would be excused, explaining that enforcers are instructed to assess traffic violations effectively. “Simple or light” violations will be allowed as long as it does not pose any danger to motorists, passengers and pedestrians.
“Kunyari kung nag-change siya ng lane nang biglaan kung hindi naman talaga siya nakasagi ng ibang sasakyan, o ‘di naman dangerous ang pag-swerve niya…Palalagpasin na lang natin,” he added.
[Translation: For example, if the driver changed lanes but it did not really hit another car, or if the swerving was not dangerous, then we will let it slide.]
Artes said their priority is to manage traffic and not accumulate citations.
List of Cemeteries with MMDA deployment:
Caloocan: North Cemetery and La Loma
Las Pinas: Golden Heaven
Makati: Makati South Cemetery
Malabon: Tugatog Cemetery
Mandaluyong: Mandaluyong Cemetery and San Felipe Neri Catholic Cemetery
Manila: North Cemetery and Manila North Green Park (City Shape)
Makati: South Cemetery
Marikina: Barangka Cemetery
Muntinlupa: Soldier’s Hills
Navotas: Navotas Cemetery
Paranaque: Palanyag Public Cemetery
Pasay: Sargento Mariano Public Cemetery
Pasig: Baraks, Santolan, and Roman Catholic Cemetery
Pateros: Garden Memories (Bagong Calzada St.), Aglipay Cemetery (M. Lozada St.), San Roque Cemetery (E.Hermosa St.)
Quezon City: Bagabag, Novaliches, Sangandaan Cemetery
San Juan: San Juan Cemetery
Taguig: Hagonoy Municipal Cemetery
Valenzuela: Arkong Bato and Karuhatan Public Cemetery
CNN Philippines Correspondent Gerg Cahiles contributed to this story.
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