Palace reminds motorists of road closures for ASEAN

MANILA, Philippines — The Presidential Communications Operations Office yesterday reminded motorists to avoid Roxas Boulevard and parts of Pasay City next week because they will be closed to traffic for the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit.

FULL LIST: Lockdown schedules, road closures for ASEAN Summit

PCOO Assistant Secretary Kristian Ablan said the road closures in Roxas Boulevard, the Cultural Center of the Philippines complex and the Philippine International Convention Center complex are expected to cause heavy traffic.

"You know that there will be road closures so please avoid CCP Complex, PICC complex, and Roxas Boulevard especially on November 13 to 15. Please do not complain about the traffic because you have been warned," Ablan said.

There will be a complete lockdown of the SMX-MAAX Block, Pasay City on November 11 and the CCP Complex starting on November 12.  Roxas Boulevard starting from Padre Burgos Ave. to Buendia Ave. in Manila will also be closed to traffic on November 13.

Ablan encouraged the public to monitor the ASEAN meetings and agreements to be forged by member countries and development partners. He said those who are interested on ASEAN updates may go to the ASEAN 2017 or PCOO Facebook page or watch state-run television network PTV 4.

President Duterte has declared November 13 to 15 as special non-working days in Metro Manila, Bulacan and Pampanga because of the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Summits. The Metro Manila Council has also suspended classes on November 16 and 17.

Heads of states and officials from ASEAN member-countries and dialogue partners Australia, Canada, China, India, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Russia, the United States and the European Union will join the summit.

One of the agreements that may be signed during the summit is a consensus that promotes the rights of migrant workers.

"This is a big step…The human rights of our migrant workers within the ASEAN region will be protected," Ablan said. 

Another highlight of the summit is the turnover of the ASEAN chairmanship to Singapore.