Stars are prohibited from tossing souvenir items from their floats during the 2024 Metro Manila Film Festival parade of stars on Saturday, Dec. 21.

This was pointed out by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Atty. Romando Artes when he presented the parade route during the media conference held at the MMFF building on Julia Vargas Avenue in Pasig City on Dec. 18.

Artes stated that this will be the first time the MMFF has implemented such measures to prevent accidents.

"Mahigpit naming ipinagbabawal sa mga artista na kalahok sa parada na huwag magtatapon sa mga fans ng souvenir mula sa kanilang float para maiwasan ang aksidente," Artes said.

Artes added: "Baka mali ang pagtapon ng souvenir items sa mga fans at mapunta sa ilalim ng float. May posibilidad na masagasaan pa sila at maaksidente."

For many years, it has been the tradition for stars joining the parade to throw calendars or t-shirts to fans watching on the parade route.

The parade will showcase vibrantly-designed and colorful floats carrying celebrities from 10 official entries participating in the festival: "The Kingdom", "Topakk", "Espantaho", "And The Breadwinner Is...", "Uninvited", "Hold Me Close", "Green Bones", "Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital", "Isang Himala", and "My Future You".

Parade route

“We are expecting large crowds to flock the parade route to see their favorite stars so we have laid down measures and deployment plans to ensure everyone’s safety,” said Artes.

“At least 3,000 personnel from the MMDA, Manila City Government, Office of the Civil Defense-National Capital Region, and Philippine National Police, and other concerned agencies will be deployed along the parade route to manage crowd control and ensure a smooth flow of the activities during the parade.”

The parade will start at 3 pm from the Kartilya ng Katipunan and travel through the following roads: Natividad Lopez Street ⁃ Right at P. Burgos ⁃ Straight towards Jones Bridge ⁃ Quintin Paredes ⁃ Reina Regente Street, ⁃ Pass thru Recto Avenue ⁃ Abad Santos Avenue ⁃ Tayuman Street ⁃ Lacson Avenue - España Boulevard ⁃ Nicanor Reyes St. (Morayta) ⁃ C.M. Recto Avenue ⁃ Legarda Street ⁃ P. Casal Street ⁃ yala Boulevard ⁃ Taft Avenue ⁃ T.M. Kalaw Street ⁃ Roxas Boulevard P. Burgos Avenue ⁃ Take Jones Bridge ⁃ Magallanes Drive towards Manila Central Post Office

The parade will cover a distance of approximately 12 kilometers and is expected to last around two hours and 30 minutes. Street sweepers will clean the affected roads immediately after the parade.

At arrival at the Manila Central Post Office, the audience will have the chance to meet and greet the stars followed by a music festival.

As part of the traffic management plan, temporary lane closures and stop-and-go schemes will be implemented from 12 noon to 8 pm along P. Burgos, Quintin Paredes, Reina Regente, Abad Santos Ave., Tayuman Street, Lacson Avenue, España Blvd., Nicanor Reyes St., C.M. Recto Ave., Legarda Street, P. Casal Street, Ayala Boulevard, Taft Avenue, T. M. Kalaw, Roxas Blvd., and Magallanes Drive.

Motorists are advised to take alternate routes to avoid inconvenience.

MacArthur Bridge Southbound will be closed to traffic: All Vehicles must take Dasmariñas Street then turn left at Juan Luna Street, turn left at Plaza Cervantes, turn right at Quintin Paredes, go straight to Jones Bridge, turn right at Magallanes Drive to their destination.