THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority yesterday said it will deploy 1,354 personnel for traffic management and assistance during the second State of the Nation Address of President Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 24.
MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said they are tasked to manage both vehicular and pedestrian traffic, assist in emergency response, conduct road and sidewalk clearing operations, assist in crowd control, traffic monitoring, and support the operations of the Task Force SONA 2023, PNP, Quezon City Police District, Presidential Security Group, and Quezon City government to ensure a peaceful and orderly SONA.
“Preparations are in full swing for us to ensure that traffic will be orderly along Commonwealth Ave., IBP Road, and all other thoroughfares surrounding the House of Representatives,” Artes said.
He said the newly-inaugurated MMDA Communications and Command Center in Pasig City will monitor SONA-related activities and the transport strike set on the same day.
As part of its traffic management plan, Artes said the agency will implement a “zipper lane” or counterflow on the southbound portions of Commonwealth Ave. to give way to vehicles of government officials and guests going to the Batasan Complex.
Artes advised motorists to take alternate routes to avoid the expected heavy traffic along Commonwealth Ave. and the vicinity of the Batasang Pambansa Complex during the SONA.
The following are the alternate routes the agency has prepared for the SONA:
Northbound (Quezon Memorial Circle to Fairview).
– Vehicles from Elliptical Road should take North Ave., right turn at Mindanao Avenue, then right turn to Sauyo Road or take Quirino Highway to reach their destinations.
Southbound (Fairview to Quezon Memorial Circle)
– Vehicles from Commonwealth Ave. should take Sauyo Road or Quirino Highway, turn left at Mindanao Ave., then turn left at North Ave. to reach their destinations.
Northbound (Quezon Memorial Circle to Fairview via Marikina)
– Light vehicles from C5 Road may turn left at Magiting St., turn right at Maginhawa St., and turn left at Mayaman St. to Kalayaan Ave. to reach their destinations.
– All trucks coming from C-5 along Katipunan Ave. should take the Luzon Flyover and then turn left at Congressional Ave. to reach their destinations.
Artes said the agency, in coordination with the Quezon City government, will intensify clearing operations to remove all types of road obstructions, including illegally parked vehicles, to ensure that alternate routes are passable.
“Traffic advisory signage will be installed along alternate routes to serve as a guide for motorists. Audiovisual trucks along strategic locations showing the policy programs of the MMDA and the live speech of the President will also be deployed,” he said.
