MANILA, Philippines — Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade ordered the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and Highway Patrol Group (HPG) to work together in managing the traffic in Metro Manila.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr), the MMDA, HPG, Land Transportation Office and Land Transportation and Regulatory Board will join forces to come up with one chain of command.

"Kapag watak-watak tayo, mahihirapan ang mga tao on the ground. But if we will be given authority under one chain of command, we can now easily issue orders," HPG Chief Supt. Antonio Gardiola said at a press conference on Wednesday.

The MMDA and the HPG will work as one agency and will share assets including manpower and motorcyles.

The HPG will also use the MMDA command center for better traffic monitoring, according to a statement from the DOTr.

Metro Manila will be split into 10 traffic sectors which will be headed by a sectoral director.

The concerned agencies are currently working on uniform penalties for traffic violators and joint training for traffic personnel.

"We are focusing on enforcement now while waiting for Congress to grant us emergency powers. We have to do what we can do now," DOTr spokesperson Cherie Mercado-Santos said.

The Senate committee on public service has started its hearing on granting emergency powers for President Rodrigo Duterte to solve the traffic crisis in the country.

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