Eleksyon 2022 caravans only allowed on weekend, holiday mornings –MMDA

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Monday that election-related caravans and motorcades will only be allowed during the mornings of weekends and holidays so as to not cause traffic congestion.

MMDA chairperson Benjamin Abalos Jr. said they issued guidelines for political parties and supporters to follow so that traffic jams will be avoided, especially during rush hours.

“Number one, motorcades should only be on Saturdays and Sundays or holidays. Number two, it should only be in the mornings— 5:00 in the morning, the most is 10:00 [a.m.],” he told Super Radyo dzBB.

In the guidelines, MMDA noted they would “regulate, evaluate, and issue permits” for caravans in the major thoroughfares of the capital region, while the local government units (LGUs) are in charge of those on all other roads.

Event organizers also need to apply for a Roadway Private Utilization Permit (RPUP) with the MMDA and/or the concerned LGUs. They should indicate the full details of their event, such as the name, organizations involved, date, time, route, estimated number of motor vehicles, program of activities, and other relevant details.

MMDA said that these applications for permit shall be evaluated and issued by the MMDA and the concerned LGUs, with the “consideration of a traffic management plan and undertaking of a public information and awareness campaign for the purpose.”

Organizers were also reminded to follow the minimum public health standards issued by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF), as well as the other relevant policies like the Republic Act No. 4136 (Land Transportation and Traffic Code) and those of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Abalos said that violators of this regulation will be subject to penalties by concerned authorities, particularly the  Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG).

“Ang mangyayari rito is of course, they will have their own penalties. Nakamonitor naman sa CCTV natin ‘yan at mananagot itong organizer,” he added.

(What will happen here is of course, they will get their own penalties. They would be monitored through our CCTVs and the organizer of the caravan will be punished accordingly.)

The guidelines also mentioned that violations may also result in the “suspension, cancellation or revocation of RPUP.”

The statement was made after the Metro Manila caravan of supporters of presidential aspirant Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and his running mate Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio on Sunday, which the MMDA said caused “minimal impact to traffic.”

However, according to MMDA general manager Romando Artes, the caravan of at least 900 vehicles and motorcycles was “orderly” as it was “a result of proper coordination among the concerned parties and organizers' commitment to self-policing.”

Artes said that the activity finished at 9 a.m., and the organizers deployed their own marshals, while motorcade participants occupied one lane.—AOL, GMA News