MANILA – The Land Transportation Office (LTO) is set to deploy more personnel in some areas on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) busway due to rampant traffic violations.

In a statement on Monday, LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II said the additional personnel will reinforce the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) traffic enforcers.

“Nagiging bisyo na ng ilang mga abusadong motorista ang paggamit ng EDSA bus carousel (Some motorists are getting too used to abusing the EDSA bus carousel). We recognize the limited manpower of the MMDA to strictly enforce and while the LTO has the same problem, we will tap some of our enforcers to reinforce our brothers in the MMDA,” he said.

Mendoza also ordered the LTO-National Capital Region (NCR) to identify the operator and the driver of a taxi that blocked several buses when massive floods hit the Camp Aguinaldo Gate 3 portion of EDSA on Sept. 23.

The LTO is also looking into the incident where a motorist almost hit an MMDA traffic enforcer while trying to escape after he was caught using the EDSA bus carousel on Sept. 21.

“Tinitiyak din natin ang agarang aksyon ng inyong LTO upang maparusahan ang mga mahuhuling motorista na gagamit ng EDSA bus carousel (We assure you of immediate action from the LTO to penalize motorists who illegally traverse the EDSA bus carousel),” Mendoza said.

Bracing for holiday traffic

With the holiday season just around the corner, Mendoza also ordered LTO personnel to get ready for heavy traffic due to the high volume of vehicles.

“Expected na dadami ang sasakyan habang papalapit ang holiday season lalo na sa mga matataong lugar gaya ng mga malls at terminals. Kasama na rin diyan ang inaasahang pagbigat ng daloy ng trapiko (We expect vehicles on the streets to increase during the holiday season, especially in areas like malls and terminals. This goes hand-in-hand with traffic congestion),” he said.

The LTO chief is set to meet with the MMDA and the Philippine National Police – Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) to coordinate their preparations.

“I will ensure that your LTO will make the most of our personnel to enforce traffic rules and assist our motorists where they are needed the most,” Mendoza said.

Aside from traffic enforcement, LTO personnel will also monitor the safety and security of motorists and the commuters. (PNA)