MMDA to event organizers: Inform us of scheduled events early

MANILA—The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will require organizers and establishments to notify the agency of schedules of crowd-drawing events in Metro Manila for traffic management and coordination.

MMDA General Manager Thomas Orbos explained that the measure aims to ensure that an appropriate number of traffic personnel would be deployed to areas that will be affected by fun runs, rallies, concerts and other events.

“Organizers and establishments of such events must submit to us their comprehensive traffic management plan at least one week in advance for proper coordination and information dissemination, so as not to cause too much public inconvenience,” Orbos said, citing the heavy traffic along EDSA, particularly from Cubao all the way to Buendia last Tuesday when a major concert was held at the Araneta Coliseum. The MMDA was not notified of the event.

He explained that the measure is not intended to restrict the holding of any event but only to ease traffic congestion along EDSA.

“We just want to keep vehicles moving, particularly along EDSA and its peripherals,” Orbos stressed.

Last year, the Metro Manila Council, MMDA’s policy-making body, issued Resolution Number 16-07 regulating the conduct of fun runs and other similar events along Roxas Blvd.