The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced its traffic management plans to alleviate expected congestion during the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) National Peace Rally, scheduled on January 13 at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes stated that they are preparing for the Peace Rally, which is expected to attract at least one million attendees from various provinces. The agency has devised a traffic rerouting plan to ease congestion.
“In addition to the rerouting plans, the agency will deploy approximately 1,300 personnel and implement a no day-off, no absence policy starting on the evening of Sunday, January 12, to assist motorists,” said Artes.
On January 13, starting at 4:00 a.m., the following roads will be closed to traffic to accommodate the INC event:
- Katigbak Drive
- South Drive
- Roxas Boulevard (from UN Avenue to P. Burgos)
- TM Kalaw
- Bonifacio Drive (from P. Burgos to Anda Circle)
- P. Burgos (from Roxas Boulevard to Taft Avenue)
- Maria Orosa Street
The alternative routes for public utility vehicles and private vehicles heading northbound from Roxas Boulevard are as follows: Turn right onto Quirino Avenue or UN Avenue, then left onto Taft Avenue towards your destination.
For private vehicles traveling southbound from R-10 to Bonifacio Drive, heading to Anda Circle, the route is: turn left onto Soriano Avenue, right onto Muralla Street, then left onto Magallanes Drive, right onto P. Burgos, and finally onto Taft Avenue to reach your destination.
Trucks heading to North Harbor from SLEX should continue straight on Osmeña Highway, turn right onto Quirino Avenue, then straight to Nagtahan Street, onto Lacson Avenue, then left onto Yuseco Street, continuing straight to Capulong Street, and finally right or left onto R-10 Road towards their destination.
Trucks coming from the Parañaque area must turn right onto Quirino Avenue and proceed to Nagtahan, then Lacson Avenue to reach their destination. Trucks traveling south can use the same route.
Artes emphasized that the agency will allow one-lane street parking for participants but warned that violations will result in citation tickets and towing of vehicles in accordance with MMDA’s illegal parking regulations.
Emergency lanes will be designated, particularly on Katigbak and South Drives, to facilitate the movement of emergency vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced the closure of the main road along Mindanao Avenue to Tandang Sora starting midnight on January 12 to accommodate ongoing construction for the Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1.
The Tandang Sora Station Box will be built beneath Mindanao Avenue, necessitating traffic diversion for both southbound and northbound directions. This road closure is expected to last until 2028.