MMDA to deploy 800 personnel for June 1 opening of classes

MMDA enforcer. Photo courtesy of MMDA’s official Facebook page.

MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is set to deploy more than 800 personnel for the school opening on June 1 as part of the operational guidelines and procedures that will be implemented as part of “Oplan Balik-Eskwela 2015″ by the Department of Education (DepEd).

Crisanto Saruca, MMDA traffic discipline head, said the composite team of personnel will be composed of traffic enforcers, laborers and streets sweepers who will be focusing on traffic management, sidewalk clearing, anti-jaywalking and road obstructions near schools in Metro Manila.

”The objective is to intensify our traffic enforcement and direction control, maintaining uninterrupted flow of traffic. Maliban po rito, aayusin ang footbridges and sidewalks to be cleared of obstructions by illegal vendors,” Saruca said.

”The traffic constables, who are part of the traffic discipline office, will be deployed as early as 5:30 in the morning on June 1 and the succeeding days, possibly within the next two weeks from school opening, to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and the convenient passage of students toward their school,” he added.

Saruca also said the MMDA Metrobase will continue to monitor and track traffic situations near schools on a 24-hour basis during the first and succeeding school days while the Agila Mobile Base will be on stand-by to be dispatched to critical areas, as the need arises.

”Our Metro Manila traffic operation is divided into traffic enforcement districts and they shall be responsible for ensuring traffic order in the entire metropolis, with emphasis on school zones,” he said.

The traffic enforcers will be deployed on the following perennially traffic-prone areas:

— The EDSA Special Traffic and Transport Zone (EDSA-STTZ) that covers the entire stretch of EDSA with critical choke points (Cubao, Aurora, Balintawak Cloverleaf)

— The Western Traffic Enforcement District (WTED) covering the University Belt in Manila.

— The Northern Traffic Enforcement District (NTED) that covers the CAMANAVA area (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela).

— The Central Traffic Enforcement District I (CTED I) that covers Quezon Ave.; E. Rodriguez Ave.; Aurora Blvd.; Mindanao Ave. and Congressional Ave., all in Quezon City.

— The Central Traffic Enforcement District II (CTED II) covering Katipunan Ave. and C.P. Garcia Ave., Quezon City.

— The Eastern Traffic Enforcement District (ETED) covering the cities of San Juan, Mandaluyong, Pasig and Marikina and also the major thoroughfares of Ortigas Ave., C-5 Road, Meralco Ave. and Marcos Highway.

— Southern Traffic Enforcement District (STED) that covers the cities of Makati, Pasay, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Las Piñas and Taguig.

— The Commonwealth Special Traffic District (CSTD) which covers Commonwealth Ave.

Saruca said that they will also implement and intensify the anti-jaywalking campaign to help maintain the safety of pedestrians and students.

He added that the anti-smoking enforcement group will apprehend smokers and ensure that no cigarettes will be sold within 100 meters of the school premises.

The Oplan Balik-Eskwela 2015 was reactivated on Monday to ensure that the opening of classes will be smooth.

The inter-agency task force includes the Departments of Energy (DOE), Interior and Local Government (DILG), Health (DOH), National Defense (DND), Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Trade and Industry (DTI),Labor and Employment (DOLE), Manila Electric Company (Meralco), Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System MWSS), Office of the Civil Defense (OCD), Commission on Higher Education (CHED), Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA), MMDA, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), and Philippine National Police (PNP).

Dr. Esperanza Cayanan, PAGASA officer-in-charge, said they expect good weather next week.

But she said rains in the afternoon and evening are normal since the country is now in transition period from dry to rainy season.

Nationwide, DepEd said they expect this year’s total enrollment to reach around 23 million students, 21 million of which are in public schools and the rest in private schools.