MMDA puts road projects on hold to ease holiday traffic

MANILA, Philippines – To avoid worsening traffic this holiday season, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be imposing a moratorium on road diggings and excavations starting December 14.

The moratorium will be implemented until midnight of January 3, 2016, according to MMDA Traffic Engineering Center Director Noemi Recio.

Recio said the public works department has 146 road projects all over Metro Manila.

“If we can stop these projects, we are hopeful that traffic in Metro Manila would not be that heavy and would somehow ease the burden of shoppers during the holiday rush,” Recio said.

But some projects, such as the ongoing construction of the Skyway Stage 3 and other roadworks that do not block traffic, will continue.

Private contractors that defy the moratorium will be fined, and will also be directed to cover diggings to allow motorists to use roads, Recio said.

Earlier, the MMDA announced a manifesto of support with some metro malls to extend operating hours in anticipation of the holiday traffic. – Rappler.com