Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, accompanied by MMDA Special Operations Group–Strike Force Head Gabriel Go, conducted a surprise inspection early Monday morning at the EDSA Station of LRT Line 1.

During the inspection, Secretary Dizon encountered rows of illegal vendors who had set up stalls along the footbridge adjacent to the station.

While acknowledging the vendors’ need to earn a living, Dizon emphasized the importance of enforcing regulations.

“Aminado naman sila nakakaawa rin naman na kailangan nilang maghanap buhay ang problema hindi nae-enforce alam naman nila na hindi sila dapat nandoon. So ngayon ang instruction ko ang MMDA nandito. Nagpapasalamat tayo sa MMDA kay Chairman Don ang problema nila papaalisin tapos babalik lang. So ibig sabihin ang tanong diyan unang una bakit ang lakas ng loob nilan pabalik balik na alam nila na iligal so ibig sabihin may pumuproteksyon diyan yun lang ang tingin ko,” Dizon said.

Gabriel Go explained that the MMDA Strike Force avoids confiscating goods and instead focuses on removing physical obstructions such as tables, chairs, and cabinets that block pedestrian pathways.

“So as much as possible ayaw natin kinukuha yung paninda. Ang tinatanggal lang natin yung mga obstruction, yung mga sabitan, mga estante, cabinet, lamesa, upuan. Yan ang tinatanggal natin because it's causing obstruction hindi lang sa mga sidewalk kundi also lalo na ngayon sa mga footbridge na dapat nilalakaran ito ng mga taumbayan,” Go noted.

Secretary Dizon also plans to summon the owner of a nearby mall adjacent to MRT-3, where vendors have reportedly taken over a staircase meant for public access.

Another concern raised during the inspection was the continued manual bag inspections by LRT-1 security personnel, despite the installation of metal detectors.

Dizon criticized the practice, pointing out that it contradicts the streamlined procedures already in place at MRT-3.

“Tinanggal nga natin yung x-ray. Yung mga guwardiya naman ng LRT-1 binubuksan isa-isa yung mga ano, hindi na dapat. Kaya nga may metal detector na tayo eh so ang gusto ko lang kung ano yung ginagawa sa MRT-3 consisitent yung implementation,” Dizon said.

“I'm asking LRMC to go to MRT-3 which is right beside you ang see what they doing and follow what they doing we cannot have different execution sa mga linya kaya nagkaka pila-pila roon eh.”