Motorists experience heavy traffic along Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City due to road repairs, April 17, 2025. Francis Orcio, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is deploying  2,500 personnel in anticipation of heavy traffic as people return from the Holy Week break.

Speaking to Teleradyo Serbisyo on Sunday, Charlie Nosares of MMDA Metrobase said they have not monitored any traffic buildup on Metro Manila’s roads despite construction and repair work on parts of C-5 Road in Pasig and Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City.

“At magandang balita rin dahil wala naman tayong reported na vehicular accident mula sa traffic monitoring units at dahil maluwag ang mga kalsada payo natin sa mga motorista na lagi nating sinasabi sa kanila konting ingat sa inyong pagmamaneho,” he also said.

(It is also good news that we have not monitored any vehicular accidents. Because the roads are empty, we advise motorists to be careful while driving)

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Traffic will start to get heavier on Sunday afternoon, Nozares said, as people come back to the capital.

“Mayroon tayong nakahandang 2,500 na traffic personnel na naka-antabay para sa pagbabalik lungsod na mga nagbabakasyon ng ating mga kababayan,” he said.

(We have 2,500 traffic personnel ready as those who went on vacation come back to the city)

He said the MMDA expects traffic to start building up around 4:30 p.m., with a steady stream of vehicles coming in until Monday morning.

Cities in the Philippines slow down during the Lenten break as many in the nominally predominantly Catholic Philippines travel to the provinces to observe Holy Week, to visit family, or to go on vacation.

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Work, as well as the traffic, resume on Monday.

“Bukas, aga-agahan ninyo ang pag-alis,” Nosares said.

(Tomorrow, leave a little earlier for work)

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