The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) continues the deployment of around 2,500 traffic enforcers to manage the expected surge of people returning from the provinces after the Christmas holidays.

An MMDA source said deployment and operations remain ongoing as travelers make their way back to Metro Manila. “Tuloy-tuloy po ang deployment at operations hanggang makabalik ang mga galing province,” the source said.

The response came after the Daily Tribune asked whether the agency had an operational plan in place for the post-holiday return of travelers, particularly at bus terminals, seaports, and airports. The source added that the number of deployed personnel exceeds 2,000.

Authorities observed that as early as Friday, travelers from the provinces had begun arriving in Metro Manila as the holiday season concluded. A major bus terminal in Cubao recorded a steady stream of buses from various provinces, with arrivals starting as early as dawn on 02 January 2026.

While the volume of returning passengers is already significant, transport officials and bus operators expect it to increase further over the weekend.

Despite the heavy volume, authorities noted that commuter flow remained orderly. Almost all inbound trips were fully booked at one Cubao bus terminal, prompting bus companies to deploy additional units to meet demand. Buses from the provinces were operating at 30-minute intervals.

Ahead of the holiday travel period, the MMDA implemented several traffic management measures. Around 2,500 traffic personnel were deployed across major thoroughfares and transport hubs in Metro Manila, with extended duty hours until midnight for continuous monitoring and assistance.

Provincial buses were allowed to operate along EDSA for 24 hours daily from 24 December 2025 until 02 January 2026 to accommodate increased passenger volume.

The expanded number coding scheme was temporarily suspended on 24, 25, 29, 30, and 31 December 2025, as well as on 01 and 02 January 2026, to allow greater travel flexibility.

Road construction and excavation activities on national and city roads in Metro Manila were also suspended from mid-November until early January to ease traffic congestion.

The MMDA coordinated with other agencies, including the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Office (LTO), to synchronize traffic management plans and ensure safety at transport hubs such as the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).