MMDA enforcers fail to join HPG cops on joint EDSA traffic operation

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority traffic enforcers on Tuesday failed to join their Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group counterparts during the second day of the joint effort to control traffic on EDSA, according to a Balitanghali report by Mark Salazar.

While the MMDA's deployment sheet was supposed to show a one is to one ratio between HPG and MMDA enforcers along EDSA's traffic posts, none of the 49 MMDA enforcers were listed as present while all 48 HPG personnel manned the posts.

The MMDA promised to look into the reason behind their personnel's absence.

However, sources revealed that there had been a turf war between the MMDA and HPG, citing a past incident in which the HPG pulled out of EDSA over the failure of MMDA enforcers to heed their instructions.

Pialago clarified that the HPG should be directing traffic from Timog Avenue to Ortigas Avenue, with MMDA officers providing them with support.

She added that MMDA enforcers should not feel slighted over the HPG's presence, and dominance, as the traffic problem on EDSA needed their combined effort.

Meanwhile, Tuesday morning rush hour traffic along EDSA was notably atrocious, with southbound traffic jammed from North Avenue in Quezon City to JP Rizal in Makati; while northbound lanes were equally jammed from White Plains-QC all the way to Timog Avenue.

The MMDA blamed the situation on the volume of vehicles, as there had only been six minor accidents during the rush hour, much less than the daily average of 42 minor accidents. — Jamil Santos/DVM, GMA News