The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) unveiled its traffic management plans to mitigate the expected heavy congestion during the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) "National Peace Rally" scheduled on January 13 at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
At least one million attendees from various provinces are reportedly expected to join the rally, prompting the MMDA to implement rerouting schemes and deploy additional personnel to assist motorists.
“Aside from the rerouting plans, the agency shall also deploy around 1,300 personnel and will implement a no day off, no absent policy to help assist motorists starting evening of Sunday, January 12,” MMDA Chairperson Don Artes said during a press conference on Friday, Jan. 10.
Road closures, rerouting plans
Starting at 4 a.m. on January 13, the MMDA announced that several roads will be closed to traffic to accommodate the event.
These include Katigbak Drive, South Drive, Roxas Boulevard (from UN Avenue to P. Burgos), TM Kalaw, Bonifacio Drive (from P. Burgos to Anda Circle), P. Burgos (from Roxas Boulevard to Taft Avenue), and Maria Orosa Street.
Motorists are advised to take alternate routes. For northbound traffic from Roxas Boulevard, vehicles should turn right to Quirino Avenue or UN Avenue, then left to Taft Avenue.
Southbound vehicles from R-10 to Bonifacio Drive are advised to turn left to Soriano Avenue, right to Muralla Street, left to Magallanes Drive, and then right to P. Burgos and Taft Avenue.
Trucks heading to North Harbor from SLEX are directed to proceed to Osmeña Highway, turn right to Quirino Avenue, continue straight to Nagtahan, then Lacson Avenue, left to Yuseco Street, straight to Capulong Street, and then turn either right or left to R-10 Road. Meanwhile, trucks coming from Parañaque should turn right to Quirino Avenue, proceed to Nagtahan, and continue to Lacson Avenue.
Artes also noted that participants will be allowed to use one lane for street parking, but violators will be issued citation tickets, and vehicles will be towed in accordance with MMDA’s illegal parking rules.
Emergency lanes will also be designated along Katigbak and South Drive for ambulances and other emergency vehicles, he added.
Subway construction
Adding to the anticipated congestion, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced the closure of the main road along Mindanao Avenue to Tandang Sora starting midnight on January 12 to facilitate the construction of the Tandang Sora Station Box for the Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1.
The MMDA said that the road closure, which will divert both southbound and northbound traffic, is expected to last until 2028.