Palace: MMDA ordered to manage heavy traffic Tuesday night

STRANDED. Passengers are stranded, as no public utility vehicles are available on Tuesday night. Heavy traffic, heavy rains, and failed MRT operations added to the problem. (Photo by Analette Abesamis/Rappler)

MANILA, Philippines – On the first hour of Wednesday, September 9, President Benigno Aquino III instructed Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino to manage heavy traffic experienced in many parts of Metro Manila starting Tuesday evening, Malacañang said.

Palace Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said he was in touch with Tolentino before midnight and that Tolentino told him "he witnessed and supervised the heavy traffic situation in EDSA."

“Chairman Tolentino was instructed [by the President] to deploy traffic enforcers in critical areas where heavy traffic ensued after heavy rains and flooding,” Coloma told Rappler in a text message.

When asked, Coloma said there will be no cancellation of work or classes on Wednesday.

“I too saw high volume of vehicles and many people stranded. No announcement on cancellation of work or classes,” he said.

Many netizens took to social media their dismay and anger over the heavy traffic they experienced due to floods in the metro.

On top of this, operations of the Metro Rail Transit line 3 (MRT3) were affected. Move and Project Agos volunteer Hep Benitez reported at 9:30 pm that the MRT operated only from Shaw Boulevard to North Avenue only. (READ: Heavy rains leave many stranded, forced to walk home) – Rappler.com