A significant increase in the number of vehicles traversing along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) was addressed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) today, Apr. 15 by ticketing and confiscating the license of drivers of non-essential vehicles—those without quarantine passes and had no businesses to travel to.
The MMDA personnel were seen asking private vehicles to move aside for questioning. Cargoes, ambulances and those with quarantine passes were allowed to pass EDSA’s inner lane.
Traffic was also spotted by GMA reporter Darlene Cay yesterday, Apr. 14 at the northbound lane South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) with vehicles at a complete standstill.
In an interview with DZBB Super Radyo, Philippine National Police (PNP) Highway Patrol Group director Police Brigadier General Eliseo Cruz said that areas developing traffic will be strictly monitored and that checkpoints will be implemented along that area.
Earlier, Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) spokesperson and Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said that the increase in the number of vehicles along EDSA will lead the PNP to strictly implement the policy on Authorized Persons Outside of Residence (APOR). The PNP will inspect private vehicles to determine whether or not they are APOR. If the driver or any of the passengers are not, they will be issued Land Transportation Office Temporary Operator’s Permit or an MMDA Ordinance Violation Receipt after the confiscation of driver’s license.
Under the Bayanihan Heal as One Act, authorized persons are frontliners, medical and health workers and employees of essential services. Nograles adds that police operations are becoming more stringent as the number of coronavirus cases has reached 5,453 with a total of 349 deaths and 353 recoveries.
Header photo courtesy of MMDA Facebook
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