The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) partnered with the local governments of Pasig, Marikina, Cainta, and Antipolo on Wednesday, August 26, to implement a unified traffic and transport strategy along Marcos Highway.
MMDA Chairman Don Artes signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at the agency’s headquarters in Pasig City alongside local chief executives, including Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, Marikina City Mayor Marcelino Teodoro, Cainta Mayor Keith Nieto, and Antipolo City Mayor Casimiro Ynares III.
The pact aims to establish a joint mechanism to streamline traffic schemes, enforce sustained clearing operations, and eliminate road obstructions—such as illegally parked vehicles, unauthorized transport terminals, and street vendors—spanning the multi-jurisdictional thoroughfare.
Local leaders welcomed the initiative, emphasizing the necessity of a synchronized approach for the heavily traversed arterial road.
“The portion of Marcos Highway within Pasig is only about 70 meters. We are very thankful to the MMDA, especially under the leadership of Chairman Artes, for this initiative,” Sotto said.
“I thank the MMDA for taking the lead on this effort,” Nieto stated.
“This is a good effort to unify traffic management. It would be a great help for Marikina,” Teodoro remarked.
“Mahalaga ang tuloy-tuloy na coordination dahil iisang corridor lang ang ginagamit ng libo-libong motorista araw-araw. Kung magkakaugnay ang traffic schemes ng bawat LGU, mas maayos nating mapapadaloy ang trapiko at mababawasan ang congestion,” Teodoro added.
The inter-agency agreement traces back to a severe gridlock on December 6, 2025, which trapped motorists along Marcos Highway for up to six hours. Following the incident, the MMDA and traffic officials from the four LGUs met on December 9, 2025, to formulate long-term mitigation measures.
Antipolo Mayor Ynares noted that the partnership is particularly timely ahead of the MMDA’s planned September rollout of Phase 1 of its ₱500-million drainage project along the highway, which is anticipated to affect traffic flow.
“Kapag may proyekto, hindi puwedeng kanya-kanya. Sa pagkakataong ito, MMDA ang mangunguna sa traffic management sa Marcos Highway habang nakasuporta ang mga local na pamahalaan na sakop ng MMDA drainage project Pasig-Marikina-Cainta-Antipolo,” Ynares explained.