The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will be deploying around 4,500 policemen to secure the national peace rally of the religious group Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) on Monday, Jan. 13, at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
NCRPO director Brig. Gen. Anthony A. Aberin said the Metro Manila policemen will be augmented by around 500 personnel of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP).
“We have strong coordination with other government agencies in terms of all the necessary preparations to secure this event,” Aberin told the Manila Bulletin.
He said coordination was also made with the leadership of the Iglesia Ni Cristo.
Other agencies involved include the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) which helped prepare alternate routes in the areas where a huge volume of vehicles are expected from members of the religious group.
Malacañang earlier suspended government work and classes in Manila and Pasay City in anticipation of a huge volume of vehicles and a large number of people who are expected to join the event.
MMDA chairman Don Artes said the MMDA will be deploying around 1,300 to help the traffic management going to and from the venue.
“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,” said Artes.
Artes said they will also allow one lane street parking for the participants and warned individuals who will violate this that the agency shall issue citation tickets and vehicles will be towed in accordance to the MMDA’s illegal parking rule.
“The agency shall also designate emergency lanes particularly in Katigbak and South Drive to give way to emergency vehicles,” said Artes.
Experts said the INC’s national peace rally is intended to defuse political tension between the camp of President Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte.
The PNP said it is also ready to secure other venues of the INC rally in various parts of the country.
Road closures and rerouting
According to the MMDA, the following roads will be closed to traffic on Jan. 13 from 4 a.m. onwards:
1. Katigbak Drive
2. South Drive
3. Roxas Boulevard (from UN Avenue to P. Burgos)
4. TM Kalaw
5. Bonifacio Drive (from P. Burgos to Anda Circle)
6. P. Burgos (from Roxas Boulevard to Taft Avenue)
7. and Maria Orosa Street
The following are the alternate routes for public utility vehicles and private vehicles going northbound from Roxas Boulevard:
- turn right to Quirino Avenue or U.N. Avenue, then left to Taft Avenue, to the point of destination.
For private vehicles heading southbound from R-10 to Bonifacio Drive, going to Anda Circle, turn left to Soriano Avenue, right turn to Muralla St., turn left to Magallanes Drive, turn right to P. Burgos to Taft Avenue, going to point of destination.
For trucks going to North Harbor from SLEX, straight ahead to Osmeña Highway, turn right to Quirino Avenue, straight to Nagtahan St. going to Lacson Avenue, turn left to Yuseco St., straight ahead to Capulong St., right or left turn to R-10 Road, going to the point of destination.
Trucks coming from the Parañaque area must turn right at Quirino Avenue to Nagtahan then Lacson Avenue to the point of destination. Trucks going south may use the same route.
A lot of cars, and participants
The MMDA is expecting around one million people to attend the INC’s peace rally.
Artes said they are also expecting at least 15,000 vehicles to troop to Manila for the event, the reason why traffic rerouting and road closures were implemented to prevent inconvenience to other motorists.
He said the participants are expected to arrive starting Sunday, Jan. 12 and this is the reason why some parking spaces near the Quirono grandstand were tapped to accommodate as many vehicles.