Clearing of key Metro alternate routes starts Monday

The government’s allout, no-nonsense clearing operations along the Mabuhay Lanes / Christmas Lanes will go full-blast on Monday, November 2, in an effort to decongest Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (Edsa).

The intensified clearing operations will be spearheaded by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) along with the local government units (LGUs), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Philippine National Police- Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and Land Transportation Office (LTO).

MMDA Officer in Charge Emerson Carlos said the operation will start at 6 a.m.

Initially, two teams each from agency’s Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group, Parking Discipline Group and Task Force Anti-Illegal Terminal, together with their counterparts from HPG, DPWH, LTO and DILG, will be deployed to clear the 21 routes of the Mabuhay Lanes of ambulant vendors and road obstructions such as illegally parked vehicles.

Carlos said the MMDA teams will also be handing out leaflets and flyers to remind motorists and the concerned residents that the alternate routes for Edsa should be free of any form of road obstructions from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

“We should educate them that these alternate routes should be free of obstructions during these times or else we would be clearing them repeatedly,” Carlos said, noting that the Mabuhay Lanes must be decongested until the Holiday rush when vehicular traffic in Metro Manila increases substantially.

Carlos also said that all permits issued by barangay officials concerning the use of roads such as vending on the streets and sidewalks are deemed cancelled and vendors’ wares will be confiscated and turned over to the local government units.

The MMDA listed 17 Christmas or Mabuhay Lanes which will be utilized to address the expected increase in the volume of vehicles in the metropolis during the Christmas season.

These roads include those going to Greenhills in San Juan, Baclaran in Parañaque City, and Divisoria and Carriedo in Manila.