More than 3,000 personnel from various agencies will be deployed to manage crowd control and ensure a smooth flow of activities during the Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Parade of Stars on Saturday, December 21.
The parade will commence at 3 p.m. from the Kartilya ng Katipunan and will travel along the following route: Natividad Lopez Street, turning right at P. Burgos, proceeding straight towards Jones Bridge, then onto Quintin Paredes, Reina Regente Street, and passing through Recto Avenue, Abad Santos Avenue, Tayuman Street, Lacson Avenue, España Boulevard, Nicanor Reyes St. (Morayta), C.M. Recto Avenue, Legarda Street, P. Casal Street, Ayala Boulevard, Taft Avenue, T.M. Kalaw Street, Roxas Boulevard, P. Burgos Avenue, taking Jones Bridge, and finally Magallanes Drive towards the Manila Central Post Office.
As part of the traffic management plan, temporary lane closures and a stop-and-go scheme will be implemented from 12 noon to 8 p.m. along P. Burgos, Quintin Paredes, Reina Regente, Abad Santos Avenue, Tayuman Street, Lacson Avenue, España Boulevard, Nicanor Reyes Street, C.M. Recto Avenue, Legarda Street, P. Casal Street, Ayala Boulevard, Taft Avenue, T.M. Kalaw Street, Roxas Boulevard, and Magallanes Drive.
Motorists are advised to take alternate routes to avoid inconvenience.
The southbound MacArthur Bridge will be closed to traffic. All vehicles must take Dasmariñas Street; then turn left at Juan Luna Street; turn left at Plaza Cervantes; turn right at Quintin Paredes; go straight to Jones Bridge; and turn right at Magallanes Drive to reach their destination.
The Manila City Government, the Office of the Civil Defense, and the Philippine National Police have been tasked with assisting the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to ensure that the event in Manila—serving as the host city—runs smoothly.
The parade is highly anticipated as a lead-up to the official opening of the 50th MMFF and will feature vibrantly designed and colorful floats showcasing celebrities from the ten official entries participating in the festival: “The Kingdom,” “Topakk,” “Espantaho,” “And The Breadwinner Is…,” “Uninvited,” “Hold Me Close,” “Green Bones,” “Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital,” “Isang Himala,” and “My Future You.”
MMDA Chief and MMFF Concurrent Chairman Don Artes stated that this year’s parade promises to be an unforgettable experience for both filmmakers and audiences while commemorating five decades of the MMFF’s milestone edition.
“We expect large crowds to flock to the parade route to see their favorite stars, so we have established measures and deployment plans to ensure everyone’s safety,” said Artes.
The parade will cover approximately 12 kilometers and is expected to last about two hours and 30 minutes. Street sweepers will promptly clean the affected roads immediately after the parade.
Upon arrival at the Manila Central Post Office, the audience will have the opportunity to meet and greet the stars, followed by a music festival.
