Major streets across Metro Manila will be closed to traffic today in connection with the “miting de avance” and the last campaign rallies of presidential candidates and their running mates in the May 9 national and local elections.
Partido Federal ng Pilipinas standard bearer Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and running mate Sara Duterte will hold their political rally in Parañaque City in front of Solaire Resort and Casino, while the tandem of Vice President Ma. Leonor Robredo and Senator Francis Pangilinan will conduct their miting de avance along Ayala Avenue in Makati City.
As for other presidential bets, Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso will end his three-month nationwide campaign with a miting de avance in Moriones, Tondo on Saturday.
Senator Panfilo Lacson said he and running mate Senate President Vicente Sotto III wanted to deviate from the traditional miting de avance and would instead be “leapfrogging” and reaching out to voters in Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal.
The Lacson-Sotto tandem initially planned a miting de avance at historic Plaza Miranda in Manila but will instead hold a rally in the former’s home province of Cavite.
Labor leader Leody de Guzman and running mate Walden Bello already staged their miting de avance last May 3 at the Quezon Memorial Circle in Quezon City.
Other presidential and vice-presidential candidates’ plans were unclear as of presstime.
In its traffic advisory, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority stated that Marcos team’s political rally will take place at Diokno Boulevard corner Aseana Avenue in Barangay Tambo, Paranaque City beginning at 1 p.m.
A portion of Diokno Boulevard from Bradco to Asean Avenue has already been closed to vehicular traffic until midnight to give way to the activity.
One lane parking will be allowed from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. along Roxas Boulevard, Macapagal Boulevard, Diokno Boulevard, Seaside Drive, and Marina Avenue.
In Makati, partial road closures will be enforced beginning Friday evening (May 7) to 6 a.m. Sunday (May 8) on the following roads:
• Ayala Avenue (from Fonda Street to Gil Puyat Avenue)
• Paseo de Roxas Street (from Dela Rosa Street to Makati Avenue)
• Makati Avenue (from Dela Rosa Street to Paseo de Roxas)
• V.A. Rufino Street (from Dela Rosa Street to Valero Street)
• Salcedo Street (from Dela Rosa Street to Valero Street)
Motorists passing through the eastbound lane of Ayala Avenue will be re-routed to Gil Puyat going to Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.
Public utility jeepneys from the Washington Terminal going to McKinley Terminal and private vehicles passing through the westbound lane of Ayala Avenue may use the alternative routes:
From Washington Terminal going to McKinley PUJs may take Chino Roces, Dela Rosa, Amorsolo, Arnaiz, East Street, and Ayala Avenue.
Those from McKinley Terminal going to Washington Terminal may take Ayala Avenue, Parkway Drive, West Street, Arnaiz Amorsolo, Rufino and Chino Roces, and
Private vehicles going to Gil Puyat Avenue must take Ayala Avenue, Parkway Drive, West Street, Arnaiz Amorsolo, Rufino, and Chino Roces.
The MMDA is anticipating heavy traffic caused by the two big rallies.
The Robredo-Pangilinan tandem, who were in Bicol Friday, is anticipating a big crowd to show up along Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue in Makati City. With Rio N. Araja