Excavation in Metro roads to be suspended next month

EXCAVATION activities on all national and city roads in the National Capital Region will be temporarily suspended next month until the first week of January next year due to the onset of the holiday season, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said yesterday.

A memorandum issued by MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said the temporary suspension will start at midnight on November 13 and will end at midnight on January 8, 2024.

He said this is due to the expected increase in the volume of vehicles and pedestrians due to the coming holidays.

Covered by the suspension are road re-blocking works, pipe laying, road upgrading and all other excavation works that will cause obstruction or will affect the smooth flow of traffic even in alternative routes.

Artes said exempted are the flagship projects of the government, bridge repair and construction of the Department of Public Works and Highways, flood interceptor catchment projects, asphalt overlay projects without re-blocking works, sidewalk improvement;
Drainage improvement not occupying any part of the roadway, footbridge projects, emergency leak repair or breakage of water line, new water service and electrical connections, road activities without excavation, Meralco relocation and emergency works affecting major projects of the government.

“All concerned agencies are therefore advised to take appropriate measures to ensure the implementation of this Memorandum Circular and that all affected roads will remain passable, clean, safe and serviceable to all types of vehicles and pedestrians during this period,” Artes said.

Any violation of the circular, he added, shall warrant the imposition of fines pursuant to the provisions of MMDA Ordinance No.2, Series of 1991, or the Ordinance Governing Road Diggings, Excavations and Restoration in Metro Manila.

Earlier, Artes said fines for violations of regulations governing road diggings and excavations as well as restoration works in the metropolis will be increased up to P50,000.

NUMBER CODING

Scrapping the window hours in the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), or the number coding scheme, would result in 20 percent lesser vehicular volume in the