MMDA lays out traffic plans for 2023 Undas, Christmas holiday rush

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has laid out its plans to keep traffic flow optimal during the length of the 2023 All Saints’ Day - All Souls’ Day (Undas), and Christmas season. 

MMDA leadership has laid out its plans to prepare for the 2023 Undas and 2023 Xmas season rush [Photo: MMDA]

The agency detailed an extensive list of preparations for the aforementioned holidays. It was argued by MMDA Chief Atty. Don Artes that all of these measures are necessary since traffic volume typically swells up during these yearly holidays. 

First off, the MMDA is activating “Oplan Undas 2023” on October 27, 2023. In total, the MMDA will be deploying 1,448 traffic enforcers and other personnel including those belonging to the Task Force Special Operations, Road Emergency Group (REG), Metro Parkways Clearing Group (MPCG), and the Traffic Discipline Office. 

The personnel from MPCG are tasked with cleanup operations around major cemeteries. This will also involve the clearing up of obstructions on major roads leading to cemeteries. 

REG personnel meanwhile, are put in charge of public assistance centers. These will have tents and ambulances, allowing them to immediately respond to any type of emergency. For its part, the newly opened MMDA Communications and Command Center will be monitoring traffic around Metro Manila around the clock. 

The MMDA will roll out public assistance centers. This one was from 2022 Undas [Photo: MMDA]

Traffic enforcement officers will be out in full force during the holiday season with their nightshift duties extended until 12 a.m. (midnight) from November 13, 2023, to January 8, 2024. They are likewise encouraged to avoid grouping together in order to maximize road coverage. 

Interestingly, the apprehension of moving violations will also be suspended. Artes says that this is necessary since apprehension may cause traffic congestion. The agency did not provide a list of these offenses, but Artes said that will depend on the apprehending traffic enforcer and on a “case-to-case basis.” The MMDA chief cited swerving or “abruptly changing lanes” without causing a collision as an example. 

Last, but not least, the MMDA shared that it is working together with government officials to ensure public transportation like the EDSA Bus Carousel, the Manila Light Rail Transit System (LRT), and the MRT are prepared to accommodate the rush of holiday commuters. 

The MMDA's new Communications and Command Center [Photo: MMDA]

For good measure, the traffic enforcement agency will be coordinating with the DPWH and other entities to suspend road construction works and excavation activities around Metro Manila. This will come into effect starting on November 13, 2023, at 12:00 a.m. (midnight) until January 8, 2023, at 12:00 a.m. (midnight)

The said measure focuses on infrastructure projects that might impede traffic flow like pipe laying, bridge repairs, and flood interceptor catchment projects, among others. The only exemptions to this are flagship government projects like the Manila Metro Line 9 (Subway project), and the Manila Metro Rail Transit System (MRT) Line 7, among others. 

Next, shopping malls are directed to restrict their sales events and other promotional activities to two weekends before the holiday dates. Furthermore, malls are required to submit their own traffic management plans to the MMDA. 

Artes added that mall-wide sales will only be allowed on weekends, while stock deliveries will only be allowed at night. On top of that, the MMDA is recommending these malls to switch their operating hours from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. starting on November 13, 2023. Typically, establishments like the ones operated by SM Supermalls operate from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. 

Hopefully, these preparations will help smooth out traffic during the holidays. [Photo: patrickroque01]

Note that these measures for the 2023 Undas are similar to the ones implemented by the MMDA last year. There are some exceptions though, as this year’s implementation makes no mention of COVID-19 protocols. 

Like last year, the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or number coding scheme will also be suspended on November 1, 2023 (All Saints’ Day) and November 2, 2023 (All Souls’ Day). Added to these coding suspension dates this year is October 30, 2023, for the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) elections. 

Hopefully, all of these measures will work, and those commuting during the holidays won’t have to experience getting stuck in nightmarish traffic for hours on end. 

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