The Metro Manila Development Authority on Wednesday said it would impose a modified truck ban on south route in connection with the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting from Nov. 17 to 20.
The ban will take effect from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. which will complement the total closure of both lanes of Roxas Boulevard on the same dates.
The agency advised truckers to use the following alternate routes going to and from South Luzon Expressway/Cavite Area to Port Area, Manila.
From Port of Manila straight to Radial 10, right at Circumferential Road-3, left at Andres Bonifacio Avenue and take the flyover toward Quirino Highway, right at Mindanao Avenue, left at Congressional Avenue right at Luzon Avenue and straight to Katipunan/Circumferential Road-5 to destination.
The MMDA came up with the traffic rerouting scheme after consulting members of the Metro Manila Council during a meeting held at the MMDA central office in Makati City on Wednesday.
The regular truck ban hours, being enforced daily from 6 a.m to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. will be reinstated immediately after the Apec Summit.
“This will assure the efficient mobility of the Apec delegates in our major thoroughfares, especially in Manila, Pasay and Makati areas where the summit’s major events will take place,” said lawyer Emerson Carlos, MMDA officer-in-charge.
Early this month, Carlos met Police Director Gen. Ricardo Marquez and discussed about the government’s security and traffic management preparations for the four-day Apec meeting.
Carlos said major road construction and rehabilitation in Manila like the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Elevated Expressway project, Skyway Stage 3 and Ayala Bridge will be temporarily stopped during the summit.
The MMDA will also designate for Apec delegates two lanes on both northbound and southbound lanes of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue from Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City to SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City.
The agency will deploy more than 2,500 personnel to provide security for 21 leaders of different countries participating in the meeting.
The 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.”