Caravans Shouldn't Go Beyond One or Two Lanes, Says MMDA

(SPOT.ph) With less than a year before the elections, candidates have been holding caravans or motorcades—whether volunteer-driven or not—in vote-rich areas in the country. And on December 8, Wednesday, the motorcade of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Sara Duterte-Carpio, reportedly caused heavy traffic congestion in Quezon City. The local government also said that the organizers of the event has previously refused to coordinate with them, causing unofficial road closures as whole lanes of Commonwealth Avenue were occupied by motorcyle users in red and green. To prevent a similar incident from happening again, the Metro Manila Development Authority reminded organizers and participants to strictly follow traffic guidelines, especially in the National Capital Region.

"Bawal sarahan ‘yung kalsada, if ever they will be given one or two lanes para maokupa nila para ‘yun namang mga di kasama sa caravan ay di maperwisyo," Neomie Recio, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Traffic Engineering Center director, told One Balita Pilipinas on One PH on December 13.

The MMDA issued traffic guidelines for political caravans and/or motorcades on Saturday, December 11. Here's what to remember:

• The MMDA shall regulate, evaluate, and issue permits for motorcades and/or caravans in the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila.
• Concerned LGUs are in charge for such activities in all other roads.
• Motorcades and/or caravans shall only be permitted during weekends and holidays from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Organizers of these events need to apply for a Roadway Private Utilization Permit with the MMDA and/or the concerned LGUs. Applications should state the name of the event, organizations involved, date, time, route, estimated number of motor vehicles, program of activities, and other relevant details.
• Organizers of the motorcades and/or caravans shall comply with relevant laws as well as guidelines set by the country's pandemic task force.
• Any violation to these guidelines shall be grounds for suspension, cancellation, or revocation of Roadway Private Utilization Permit.

"Pwede silang i-penalize siyempre, kung nag-obstruct sila ng traffic, pwede silang matiketan ng obstruction, at may mga CCTV cameras kami, pwede silang mahuli ng no-contact apprehension namin," Recio warned.

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