INC mission causes traffic jam anew

MANILA, Philippines - Motorists took to social media to criticize the Iglesia Ni Cristo after they were stuck in a traffic jam caused by an INC outreach and evangelical mission at the Cuneta Astrodome in Pasay City yesterday.

Raymund Cruz Batalla, posting a comment on the official Facebook page of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), said the INC should have announced the event earlier so that motorists could find alternate routes.

Another Facebook user, Mike Torps, said the INC’s event should have been held on Sunday to avoid inconveniencing motorists during the morning rush hour. 

Rodrigo Rubio Jr. said it would have been better if the INC held the event at its Philippine Arena in Bulacan as it will not affect motorists.

INC spokesman Edwil Zabala said their group coordinated with the Pasay City government, which is supposed to keep the motorists informed.

“What we know is that the concerned local government unit did its part,” he said.

Zabala apologized about the traffic gridlock caused by the event.

No coordination

The Pasay City government issued a traffic advisory on Twitter at around 4:29 p.m. Thursday. The same advisory was transmitted by the Southern Police District (SPD) public information office through Viber at 10 p.m.

The MMDA posted a traffic advisory for the event only at 7 a.m. yesterday, quoting the SPD as its source.

MMDA Traffic Discipline Office chief Cris Saruca said he himself became aware of the INC mission yesterday morning, shortly before the event started, when one of his subordinates sent him a text message at around 6 a.m.

He said he immediately dispatched traffic enforcers to the site and help manage the morning traffic rush.

“The INC did not coordinate with (the MMDA) on this. They should have coordinated with us in writing. We should have been made aware of this event several days before it was staged so we could have identified the alternate routes. They also did not submit their traffic plan to us,” Saruca said.

According to the MMDA’s Metrobase – the agency’s traffic monitoring center – the closure of a section of F.B. Harrison Street for the INC event forced passenger jeepneys to the already crowded Taft Avenue.

Last month, the INC was criticized for holding a mission in the middle of Commonwealth Avenue on May 17, causing traffic gridlocks as early as 6 a.m., forcing commuters to walk to work or school.

Many said they were unaware of the road closure. The MMDA issued an advisory the night before the Commonwealth Avenue mission.

MMDA Chairman Emerson Carlos said the INC told the agency about the event only the day before.

 Quick comebacks

Responding to a comment on Facebook on why the INC did not hold the event on a Sunday, the MMDA noted that Sunday is the INC’s church day – no missions are usually held on that day – and that motorists had no choice but to seek alternate routes.

The MMDA also apologized to the commuters affected by yesterday’s INC mission, assuring them that they will inform the church group to consider the effects of their event.

The MMDA also responded to naughty questions.

Justine Romero said he would blame the MMDA for its late notice if his girlfriend leaves him if he does not make it on time for their date.

“Ako ang susuyo para sa iyo (I will woo her for you),” the MMDA responded to Romero’s comment.