No road closures during Asean summit – NCRPO

MANILA, Philippines - Authorities will not enforce any lockdown on major roads leading to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit from April 26 to 29, a police official said yesterday.

President Duterte decided to do away with road closures and the creation of special lanes so as not to inconvenience the public, National Capital Region Police Office chief Director Oscar Albayalde said.

Albayalde said police would only implement roadblocks in the vicinity of the PICC following the arrival of the world leaders and other foreign delegates in the country on April 27.

“The President does not want the public to suffer inconveniences because of the ASEAN event so we are conducting simulation exercises to speed up the travel time of the delegates from their hotel to the PICC,” Albayalde said.

“Once the ASEAN leaders are on their way to the PICC, policemen would direct traffic just like an ambulance or a firetruck is passing by,” he added.

Albayalde said a total of 8,000 police officers would be deployed to secure the ASEAN summit.

The Philippine National Police had enforced a total lockdown on roads including Roxas Boulevard and Macapagal Boulevard during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in 2015, resulting in  monstrous traffic jams in the metropolis.