IACT suspends roadwork for holidays

The Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (IACT) set a moratorium on road diggings and excavations in Metro Manila from Nov. 1 to Jan. 9 next year to ease traffic congestion during the holiday season.

Mark Richmund de Leon, assistant secretary for road transport and infrastructure, said yesterday the IACT and utility operators have agreed to stop all road diggings and excavations in the metropolis.

De Leon said this year’s moratorium on road works is more than a month earlier than last year because of the overwhelming volume of vehicles.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) implemented a moratorium on roadworks of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) from Dec. 14, 2015 to Jan. 3, 2016.

“By November, the volume of vehicles increases because of shoppers and people who want to go home to the province. That’s why we have to implement a moratorium on roadwork as early as November,” De Leon said in Filipino.

The MMDA, a member of the IACT, has also identified four Christmas or mabuhay lanes that will be cleared of obstructions for Christmas season.

All motorists taking EDSA have an option to use the four

mabuhay lanes going to their destinations from north to south and south to north.

The IACT, composed of government agencies focused on traffic situation in Metro Manila, has ordered mall owners on Friday to stop mall sales on weekdays to decongest traffic in Metro Manila.

The IACT and the mall owners have also discussed the late opening and closing of mall operations, which is from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

During the weekends, the IACT suggested an early opening of establishments at 8 a.m., De Leon said.

But MMDA general manager Tim Orbos said they have not yet finalized anything on the early opening of stores as it is still up to mall owners on what time they choose to open for the day.