Chairman Atty. Romando Artes of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday announced intensified measures to manage traffic and ensure student safety around schools with heavy vehicle congestion, particularly those located on major roads.

In a press briefing, Artes said the MMDA would pull out traffic enforcers and instead utilize closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems to regulate traffic in critical chokepoints and prevent unauthorized parking and obstructions near schools.

“Now that incidents have been happening in our schools, we need to do something about it,” Artes said. “We will focus on implementing traffic systems that will prevent further congestion around school areas.”

Among the schools being considered for CCTV monitoring are La Salle Greenhills in San Juan City, Poveda in Mandaluyong City, Xavier School, Ateneo de Manila University in Quezon City, and others where students are typically dropped off and picked up by private vehicles.

Artes noted that in several areas — especially where schools operate on dual shifts — roads have become impassable due to illegally parked vehicles and ongoing construction. He added that MMDA enforcers assigned to these areas have often been redirected to manage main road traffic, neglecting nearby school zones.

“What’s happening is that traffic in the alleyways near schools is being neglected,” he said. “We will now restrict the movement of our traffic personnel in these areas and rely more on CCTV for monitoring.”

Motorists in these locations will no longer see large numbers of enforcers, as CCTVs will be used for monitoring in line with the implementation of the non-contact apprehension policy (NCAP).

Artes also warned drivers against violating traffic rules, particularly during school hours, as stricter penalties will be enforced.

“There’s nothing to fear if you’re following the law. But if you violate it, you will definitely be caught,” he said. “The penalty for illegal parking remains at P1,400, and for reckless driving or obstruction, it could go up to P2,400.”

He emphasized that these fines are not being collected to generate revenue, but to promote compliance and improve traffic flow.

“We’re not doing this to raise funds. If we were, we wouldn’t be inviting you or giving out warnings,” he said.

The MMDA is also encouraging school administrators and parents to cooperate by educating students about proper drop-off and pick-up practices. The agency is currently identifying areas where fast lanes can be created and additional cameras installed.

Artes assured the public of the MMDA’s continued efforts to ensure safety and order around school zones.

“I’ll return to the field. We ourselves will inspect to ensure the traffic flow around schools is safe and orderly.”