Late traffic advisories caused widespread disruptions and made motorists and commuters angry at the authorities while the government is hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Manila, an official of the Metro Manila Development Authority admitted on Wednesday.
Commuters and motorists alike continued to suffer traffic congestion in major roads in Metro Manila, particularly in the areas where the Apec meetings are being held and in places visited by world leaders and delegates participating in the event.
The government came up with an advisory last month informing motorists and commuters to brace for gridlock in the cities of Makati, Manila, Pasay and Parañaque from Nov. 16 to 20, saying major thoroughfares will be closed in connection with the Apec summit.
“This is still happening despite the two-day non-working holidays declared by the government,” said motorist Paul Almin, a Makati-based business broker.
In a television interview, MMDA general manager Corazon Jimenez apologized to the public for the disruption and inconvenience.
“Because of what happened to our people, na consume ang kanilang oras sa paglalakad at dahil sa trapik, napinsala in terms of time… ang lesson dito siguro nga ay mahabang advisory or the other one is… some people are saying sana nagbakasyon na lang tayo mula Lunes. We also have to consider other things, the business, of course the government and the schools but it also depends on the organizers of the [Apec] meetings, that is their decision,” said Jimenez in a television interview.
In its advisory Wednesday, the MMDA announced the closure of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue from Ayala Avenue in Makati City to Pasay City.
Also ordered close to vehicular traffic around 7 am were stretch of Roxas Boulevard from Naia Road to Katigbak, Diokno Avenue from Seaside Boulevard to Edsa, Macapagal Avenue from Aseana to Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue Extension, Edsa Magallanes Interchange, and portion of Skyway from Sales to Magallanes exit.
A stop-and-go traffic scheme was also enforced around 9:45 a.m. in the areas near Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MIA Road, Airport Road, Naia Road, Domestic Road, Nichols and Sales), and Taft Avenue to Osmeña Highway, Quirino Avenue, Lawton, northbound lane of Edsa Macapagal to Magallanes Service Road and the northbound lane of Edsa Tramo.
“Our advise to those using Edsa, Roxas Boulevard and Macapagal Avenue, they can use the Mabuhay Lane routes. C-5 Road is very good route also. Some people are smart to ask where they can go to,” said Jimenez.
MMDA chairman Emerson Carlos said earlier that road congestion will still be a concern during the Apec meetings because there are employees in private companies who continue to report for work.
The Apec meetings will be the second high-profile global event that the country will be hosting after the World Economic Forum on East Asia last May where the administration of President Benigno Aquino III trumpeted the Philippines as the “next Asian miracle.”