TWO cities in the metropolis—San Juan and Marikina—have rerouted vehicular traffic during the long weekend in the run up to All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
San Juan rerouted all types of vehicles plying the “rising city of excellence” going to the San Juan cemetery and closed certain areas for Nov. 1 and 2, according to Renato Ramos, chief of the Traffic Parking and Management Office.
The areas closed to traffic are Boni Serrano corner Horseshow Drive; San Juan-Crame terminal; the Murphy Cubao-Crame terminal; and the Adamson-Cubao terminal.
Marikina City itself started rerouting vehicles last weekend for five days ending Nov. 2 to prevent what officials said was possible vehicle congestion around the city’s graveyards, particularly Loyola Memorial Park.
A. Bonifacio Avenue will only be open to one-way eastbound traffic from Barangka Flyover to Shoe Avenue Stoplight.
All people who need to get to Loyola Memorial Park will have to take Marcos Highway and take Barangka Flyover or Barangka Underloop to access A. Bonifacio Avenue.
Gate 2 of Loyola Memorial Park will serve as the entrance to the cemetery. To get there, one must turn left to Plaza delas Flores, then left to Paspasan St., right to Don Gonzalo Puyat Street.
Meanwhile, Gate 1, the main gate of Loyola Memorial Park, will serve as the exit, in which traffic will be directed to turn right to Paspasan St., turn left to Chorillo St., and left to A. Bonifacio Avenue.
Riverbanks Avenue will only be open to one-way southbound traffic, towards Marcos Highway, which means motorists can access the highway from A. Bonifacio Avenue by accessing Riverbanks Avenue.
Motorists are advised to park at the pay parking area of Riverbanks Mall if Loyola Memorial Park is already full with parked vehicles.
Medical and emergency/first aid stations, ambulances, policemen will be stationed in these cemeteries, and CCTV cameras will be positioned to ensure coverage of all areas.
Command centers will also be placed in the cemeteries, all being controlled by a central command center of Marikina City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, officials said.
The city government also reminds the public not to bring prohibited items inside the cemetery like items used for gambling, flammable items, deadly weapons, liquor, and loud machines such as karaoke.
Earlier, Marikina City Mayor Marcy Teodoro inspected the city’s four major cemeteries — Loyola Memorial Park, Barangka Cemetery, Aglipay Cemetery, and Our Lady of the Abandoned Parish Cemetery – to ensure safe and hassle-free visits of those remembering their departed loved ones.