By Tracy Cabrera
BARANGAY CAMP AGUINALDO, Quezon City — Around 7,000 people have already gathered around the People Power Monument on Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) and the crowd continues to assemble for today’s rally even as personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) began towing illegally parked vehicles early this morning to ease heavy traffic caused by the expected protest rally near Ortigas Avenue.
According to MMDA general manager Nicolas Torre III, they had coordinated with law enforcement and other government agencies while deploying personnel, barriers and towing equipment to clear affected lanes and minimize disruption to travelers and motorists.
“Our priority right now is to reopen the road because many people are on their way to work, and they’re also being caught in the rain . . . The public has to come first,” Torre stressed in a radio interview while monitoring his men’s movements.
“Traffic worsened after protesters gathered along Edsa near the Corinthians Gate, with the presence of illegally parked vehicles further constricting traffic flow. The traffic buildup also extended to the southbound lanes after some motorists made U-turns beneath the Ortigas flyover to avoid the affected northbound stretch,” the former national police chief described the situation.
Torre stressed that while the government respects the public’s right to assemble and express their views, the rights of commuters and workers must also be protected.
“If they want to hold a rally and express their views, that’s okay. But those who want to work and go to their offices should also be able to get there and do their jobs,” he pointed out.
The MMDA official added that cones were also placed to protect protesters from road hazards while ensuring traffic could continue moving as much as possible.
ia/xf
