MANILA — A task force created by the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (I-ACT) has started conducting its clearing operations in areas near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to improve the traffic situation in Metro Manila.
The Task Force Alamid has apprehended motorists and towed illegally parked vehicles along the roads to and from the NAIA during Monday’s operations according to I-ACT Communications and Administrative Services head Elmer Argano.
Around 27 motorists were apprehended for illegal parking by the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the local government unit (LGU) of Paranaque City.
Seven vehicles were towed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Paranaque City LGU for the same violation.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) likewise apprehended five motorists for violating the proper dress code for public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers.
A memorandum from the Board states that drivers should wear the proper uniforms namely light blue for jeepney drivers, white for bus drivers, red for taxi drivers, green for UV Express drivers; and yellow for school service bus drivers.
“The first 3 days of major operations were dedicated on all the roads to and from the airports. We shall go deep south of Metro Manila by tomorrow morning,” Argano said in a text message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).
Task Force Alamid is a composite team which was formed by the I-ACT to help manage the expected traffic congestion in Metro Manila with the onset of the holiday season.
It seeks to focus on clearing of illegally parked vehicles and other obstructions in traffic-prone areas of the metropolis. Enforcement operations will be conducted in areas leading to the seaports, airports, bus terminals and the major thoroughfares in Metro Manila.
The task force will also address other traffic concerns such as illegally franchised or “colorum” vehicles, implementation of laws on anti-drunk and distracted driving, among others.
Task Force Alamid was launched last October 19 at the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) office in Pasay City. It is composed of 20 personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), 25 police officers from the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG), 25 enforcers from the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and 30 traffic enforcers from the MMDA.
I-ACT is an inter-agency body composed of DOTr, MMDA, PNP-HPG, Land Transportation Office (LTO), and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) tasked to address traffic congestion in Metro Manila, Laguna, Rizal, Cavite, and Bulacan. (Aerol John Pateña/PNA)
