Artes reassigns MMDA officials to address traffic surge in NCR

MANILA – Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Romando Artes has reassigned three MMDA officials to lead three traffic enforcement groups to help address the surge in vehicular traffic in the National Capital Region (NCR).

In a statement on Friday, Artes announced the appointment of Traffic Operations Officer (TOO) IV Edison Nebrija as head of the new Task Force Special Operations (TFSO) and Anti-Colorum Unit; TOO IV Jeffrey Torres as the new head of EDSA Special Traffic and Transport Zone, replacing Nebrija; and TOO1 D’Arthony John Maquinto as head of the Northern Traffic Enforcement District.

“We trust the capability of Nebrija to enforce traffic rules and regulations beyond the stretch of EDSA, and clear Mabuhay Lanes and other major thoroughfares of traffic obstructions,” said Artes.

As chief of the TFSO and Anti-Colorum Unit, Nebrija’s scope has been extended from EDSA to all NCR roads under the jurisdiction of the MMDA.

Nebrija said the TFSO will concentrate on providing alternate routes to motorists.

“We will intensify our clearing operations so that motorists would have alternate routes aside from EDSA. We are thankful that the management is supportive of our programs to ease traffic in Metro Manila,” he said.

On the other hand, Torres will be the chief of MMDA’s traffic management in EDSA, the country’s busiest thoroughfare.

Torres will focus on speeding up traffic flow in EDSA through traffic management with a secondary focus on the apprehension of traffic violators.

He assured that he will continue Nebrija’s efforts to manage traffic on EDSA and the “constant visibility” of the MMDA’s 500 traffic enforcers, especially during rush hours.

On March 1, the NCR and several other regions in the country were placed under the least restrictive Alert Level 1, allowing the 100 percent operation of all modes of public transportation and the return to office of most workers in the country. (PNA)