MMDA fine-tuning lockdown schedule for Asean

MANILA, Philippines — Starting Nov. 11 to 15, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will temporarily close portions of EDSA, Roxas Boulevard and other roads to give way to the convoys of delegates attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nationas (ASEAN) Summit and Related Meetings.

Emmanuel Miro, head operations of the MMDA task force ASEAN, yesterday announced that the agency has designated the two innermost lanes of EDSA as ASEAN lanes.

The southbound ASEAN lane will be closed to traffic from Nov. 11 to 13, while the northbound ASEAN lane will be closed from Nov. 13 to 15. 

“The motorists will use the remaining three lanes of EDSA but every time a convoy will pass, the whole service road and intersections will be stopped, meaning EDSA will be cleared of vehicles,” Miro told reporters. 

The roads will be closed only at a certain time of the day. The roads will be opened to motorists after guests has passed. The MMDA is yet to provide information on the time EDSA will be closed on these days.

Miro said the convoy will pass for about five to 10 minutes since vehicles will be running at least 80 kph to 100 kph.

Miro also urged motorists to look for alternate routes during the ASEAN Summit and avoid using EDSA, especially from Balintawak in Quezon City to Magallanes in Makati City if they do not want to be stuck in traffic.

“Or you may go on a vacation outside of Metro Manila to prevent traffic congestion,” he added.

Miro also reminded motorists that the CCP Complex in Pasay City will be partially locked down on Nov. 8 from 12:01 a.m. onwards. It will be completely locked down on Nov. 12 from 12:01 a.m. until Nov. 14. The lockdown will be partially lifted at noon of Nov. 15. 

The SMX-MAAX Block in Pasay City will also be locked down on Nov. 11 from 10 p.m. to Nov. 13 at 12:01 a.m.

Roxas Boulevard will be totally locked down from Padre Burgos Ave. to Buendia Ave. from 12:01 a.m. of Nov. 12 to noon on Nov. 13.

The MMDA will also hold its convoy dry run on Nov. 8 from 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. It will  affect the southbound lanes in Clark-Pampanga, SCTEX, NLEX, EDSA, Roxas Boulevard, Ayala Ave., Makati Avenue, Pasay, Lawton and McKinley in Taguig City.

Roads near Quirino Grandstand closed tonight

Roads around the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park will also be closed to vehicular traffic starting 10 p.m. today to give way to the send-off ceremony for the security contingent that will secure the ASEAN meetings, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada announced yesterday.

Estrada said the stretch of Independence Road, Katigbak Drive and South Drive will be closed to vehicular traffic.

All vehicles coming from Bonifacio Drive and P. Burgos intending to utilize Katigbak Drive shall go straight on Roxas Boulevard to their point of destination.

All vehicles from Roxas Boulevard and TM Kalaw intending to utilize South Drive shall go straight to Roxas Boulevard to point of destination.

All vehicles going to and from Manila Ocean Park, H20 Hotel and Manila Hotel shall utilize Katigbak Drive as access road.

The send-off ceremony for the 23,000 security personnel of the ASEAN Security Task Force will start at 6 a.m. Sunday. Around 53,000 policemen, soldiers and other security personnel, along with their fleet of vehicles and equipment will assemble at the Quirino Grandstand.

Sailing in Manila Bay prohibited

Manila Bay will also be a “no-sail zone” during the 31st ASEAN Summit, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) announced yesterday.

DILG officer-in-charge Catalino Cuy said sea operations in Manila Bay will be banned for all types of vessels from Nov. 5 to 16 as part of security preparations.

The ban coverage includes the waters from H20 Hotel in Manila to Okada Hotel along New Seaside Drive in Parañaque City.

Cuy also said the shoreline from H20 Hotel to the mouth of Pasig River will be a controlled area. All vessels coming in and out will be escorted by patrol boats of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).

Vessels that will be utilized for the ASEAN Summit are required to submit a manifest of passengers to the PCG three days before docking. All passenger vehicles must also submit their manifest one day before docking or sailing.

“Maximum maritime security is part of our safety preparations to ensure that the short stay of ASEAN delegates in our country will be as peaceful, safe and secure as possible,” Cuy said in a statement.

“We are covering all fronts because the safety and security of our delegates is our primordial concern. We therefore request for the full cooperation and understanding of our seafarers so that the upcoming ASEAN summit will be safe and incident-free,” he added.

Gun ban imposed

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has imposed a 15-day gun ban in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Calabarzon as part of security preparations.

PNP chief Director General Ronald dela Rosa issued a memorandum on Oct. 27 suspending permit to carry firearms outside residence from Nov. 1 to 15 in the three regions.

Dela Rosa included Calabarzon in the gun ban because Los Baños, Laguna is among the venues of the ASEAN summit.

Civilians caught carrying firearms outside of their homes will be accosted and subjected to an investigation. Violators will be detained at the nearest police station for proper documentation, accounting and disposition.  – With Emmanuel Tupas, Jose Rodel Clapano