Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

MMDA Acting Chairman Don Artes joins Gen. Nicolas Torre III, the newly appointed MMDA General Manager, during a press conference at the MMDA Head Office in Pasig City on January 5, 2026. The briefing covers Gen. Torre's functions, preparations for the Traslacion, and updates on the EDSA rehabilitation. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

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MMDA

Izzy Lee

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1767588723330viber_image_2026-01-05_12-49-09_cropped_processed_by_imagy.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">MMDA Acting Chairman Don Artes joins Gen. Nicolas Torre III, the newly appointed MMDA General Manager, during a press conference at the MMDA Head Office in Pasig City on January 5, 2026. The briefing covers Gen. Torre&#x27;s functions, preparations for the Traslacion, and updates on the EDSA rehabilitation. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Newly appointed Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Nicolas Torre III will take charge of the agency&#x27;s day-to-day operations and implementation.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/12/26/former-pnp-chief-torre-takes-oath-as-mmda-general-manager-1258">Former PNP chief Torre takes oath as MMDA general manager</a></div><p>MMDA chairman Don Artes said that operational control of the agency will be directly handled by Torre, allowing the chairmanship to focus more on administrative and planning functions.</p><p>“Ang general manager will handle all the operational matters. Siya ang magkakaroon ng direct control under the supervision pa rin of MMDA Chairman so I can focus more on the administrative aspect, planning aspect. Pero in so far as implementation and day-to-day operations ng ahensya, ide-delegate na natin yan &#x27;kay GM Torre,&quot; Artes said.</p><p>&quot;I think 70 percent to 80 percent ng trabaho will be under him directly,&quot; he added.</p><p>Artes added that under Torre’s leadership, stricter discipline among traffic enforcers will be prioritized, with enforcement expected to become more consistent and firm.</p><p>Artes also said they will coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in flood control planning and execution.</p><p>For his part, Torre said traffic management among others will be his key focus.</p><p>&quot;Sa ngayon, ang focus natin ay yung traffic dahil perennial naman yan, yung baha ang solid waste management kahat naman yan pwedeng gawin sabay sabay,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;DATA-DRIVEN&#x27; POLICIES<br/></strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Torre added that MMDA policies under his watch will be data-driven, with a review of existing operational plans, past data, and the agency’s “mother oplan.”</p><p>While his background as a former Philippine National Police chief raises expectations for stronger enforcement, Torre stressed that traffic solutions go beyond policing.</p><p>&quot;Yung traffic nagsisimula talaga yan sa engineering and infrastructure ang magdadala niyan and then education. Third ang enforcement,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Sa tingin kong i-e-expect ng ating mga kababayan ay titingnan natin lahat ng mga stakeholders, kakausapin natin lahat ng stakeholders para lahat ay may involment sa mga gagawin natin,&quot; he added.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>EMERGENCY</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>He said the MMDA will aim to improve emergency response times.</p><p>&quot;Dapat ang mga aksidente na yan mabilis nang mapuntahan, maibestigahan at malinis. Five minutes sa respode, 15 minutes sa clearing para wala nang obstruction kaagad. Susubukan kung paano papabilisian dahil magdagdag din kami personnel, magte-training din kami ng mga personnel,&quot; he said</p><p>He&#x27;s also aiming for a unified MMDA response system, where rescue, investigation, and clearing operations will be handled by a single agency.</p><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/w-QtG4y1Pq4?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>MMDA chairman Don Artes said that operational control of the agency will be directly handled by Torre, allowing the chairmanship to focus more on administrative and planning functions.</p>

MMDA chairman Don Artes said that operational control of the agency will be directly handled by Torre, allowing the chairmanship to focus more on administrative and planning functions.

Torre to lead MMDA daily ops, to focus on traffic discipline, emergency response

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Torre to lead MMDA daily ops, to focus on traffic discipline, emergency response

Izzy Lee,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jan 05, 2026 12:41 PM PHT

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Updated Jan 05, 2026 12:52 PM PHT

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