The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority is gearing up for the 5th State of the Nation Address of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday – preparing to send at least 1,000 personnel to manage traffic and road obstructions.
READ: ’Hybrid’ joint session set for Rody's SONA
MMDA chairman Danilo Lim, who ordered the distribution of raincoats in case there would be rains, said Friday the personnel would be men from the Road Emergency Group, Motorcycle Patrol Units and Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group.
“The MMDA is in close coordination with the Presidential Security Group, Quezon City Police District and Department of Public Order and Safety to ensure a peaceful and orderly SONA. All assigned personnel to report to their designated post as early as 4:30 am,” said Lim.
Meanwhile, motorists are advised to take alternate routes to avoid expected heavy traffic along Commonwealth Avenue and the vicinity of Batasang Pambansa Complex.
READ: Duterte SONA to bare recovery roadmap amid pandemic effects
Northbound (Quezon Memorial Circle to Fairview): From Elliptical Road (QMC), take North Avenue, Mindanao Avenue, Quirino Highway, Commonwealth Avenue to destination
Southbound (Fairview to Quezon Memorial Circle): From Elliptical Road (QMC), take Commonwealth Avenue, Quirino Highway, Mindanao Avenue, North Avenue to destination.
Light vehicles may also opt to take:
(Northbound: QMC to Fairview) via Marikina
-From Elliptical Road (QMC), turn right Maharlika, turn left Mayaman, turn right Maginhawa, turn left C.P. Garcia, turn right Katipunan Ave., turn left A. Bonifacio Ave., straight to Gen. Luna Ave., turn right Kambal Road, turn left GSIS Road, turn left Jones St., turn right Gen. Luna Ave., straight to A. Mabini St., turn left Rodriguez Highway, turn left Payatas Road to destination
(Southbound: Fairview to QMC)
-From Elliptical Road (QMC), turn right Luzon Ave., turn right Tandang Sora Ave., turn right to Central Ave. to destination
(QMC to Fairview)
-From Elliptical Road (QMC), Turn right University Ave. turn right C.P. Garcia Ave. turn right and U-turn to Katipunan Ave. turn right Commonwealth Ave, Turn right Maharlika, turn left Masaya, turn right Maginhawa, turn left Magiting, turn right C.P. Garcia Ave. then U- turn and turn right Commonwealth Ave.
The MMDA will open zipper lanes or allow counterflow of vehicles along Commonwealth Avenue — Quezon Memorial Circle; U.P. Techno Hub; and Tandang Sora — to accommodate the volume of vehicles on the northbound lane.
To guide the motorists on the use of zipper lanes, plastic barriers and traffic cones will be installed.
Ambulances, tow trucks, military trucks, and other resources, will be placed on standby in case of any untoward incident that may happen.
Ahead of the SONA, members of Task Force Special Operations will conduct clearing operations to remove illegally-parked vehicles and other road obstructions at the following areas: Batasan Hills, Litex Road, Tandang Sora, Visayas Ave, Congressional Avenue, C-5 Road, Magiting, Maginhawa, Mayaman and Kalayaan.
READ: Duterte to deliver SONA at Batasan
Meanwhile, the Anakpawis party-list said some groups would gather on Monday to protest the anti-terror law, the closure of ABS-CBN, government’s mismanagement of the COVID19 crisis and the lack of government support for the people amid the worst economic crisis in recent history.
“We are here. We are united. We will hold the line,” it said.
“While conscious of the current health situation and its limitations, we cannot simply stand idly by as the country is torn apart by those who are running it. So even for a short period on this historic day, we will come together in unity and resistance,” Anakpawis said.
Physical actions and online protests will mark Duterte’s fifth SONA.
“For the physical action, we urge the people to come in their best COVID-inspired protest outfits. Bring face masks, face shields, disinfectants, and practice physical distancing as we did last June 12,” Anakpawis said.
“Each day, more and more people are realizing that the problem is indeed the ‘veerus’ in the Palace. Let us not let those in power evade accountability for what they have done to the people,” Anakpawis said.
In the Senate, Senate President Vicente Sotto III said he expected Duterte to tackle the government’s response to COVID-19 pandemic in his SONA.
“We expect him to concentrate and focus on the recovery program of the Philippines as far as the pandemic and the economic recovery program is concerned,” said Sotto.
Sotto said there were several proposed measures in line in Congress which seek to help the country recover from the pandemic such as the Financial Institutions Strategy Transfer (FIST) Act, the Government Financial Institutions Unified Initiatives to Distressed Enterprises for Economic Recovery (GUIDE) Act, and the Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus for the Economy (ARISE) Act.
Sotto said the Senate would also be cooperative in the passage of the Bayanihan to Recover as One Act, or Bayanihan 2.
He also hopes the President will talk on law and order as well as terrorism.
The President earlier signed the controversial Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 into law which seeks to strengthen the Human Security Act of 2007.
It also criminalizes incitement to terrorism “by means of speeches, proclamations, writings, emblems, banners, or other representations.”
It also allows the detention of suspects for up to 24 days without charges and empowers an anti-terrorism council to identify persons or groups as suspected terrorists who could be subjected to arrests and surveillance.
In the House of Representatives, Speaker Alan Peter Cayetano said the House was looking at a three-step strategy to accelerate the country’s recovery amid the pandemic as Congress prepares for the SONA.
Cayetano, in a television interview, said the country’s economic managers and House leaders had agreed the passage of the “Bayanihan to Recover as One” or Bayanihan II would be their first priority but they were still negotiating to increase the fund allocation to PP200 billion.
“We already have an agreement in P140 billion immediately, and about one-third or half of it will go to banks that will help [give] loans with small and medium and micro businesses,” he said.
“[Finance] Secretary Sonny [Dominguez] doesn’t want us to be irresponsible…,” Cayetano said, referring to the funding of the economic stimulus measures.
Second, Cayetano said Congress was looking at the 2021 budget as a tool to fund programs that would facilitate faster and better services to help save the lives and livelihoods of the Filipinos.
Lastly, Congress will pursue separate stimulus measures such as the Accelerated Recovery and Investments Stimulus for the Economy (ARISE) and the COVID-19 Unemployment Reduction Economic Stimulus (CURES) Act of 2020.
Cayetano said the ARISE measure, spearheaded by House Committee on Ways and Means Chairman Joey Salceda, Rep. Stella Quimbo, and House Committee Chairman of Economic Affairs Rep. Sharon Garin, had proposed P1.3 trillion to finance various programs that would provide assistance and wage subsidies to micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and the tourism and transport sectors.
He said of the total amount allocated under ARISE, P650 billion would be used to fund the enhanced Build, Build, Build program for the next three years starting in 2021.
The CURES bill proposes a total P1.5 trillion to step up infrastructure development programs that will create more jobs in the rural areas affected by the pandemic. The program will be implemented for three years with a P500-billion budget allocated for each year.
The measure seeks to fund projects under the HEAL-IT sector which includes health, education, agriculture, local roads, infrastructure, livelihood, information and communication technology, and tourism.
Before the adjournment of the First Regular Session, the House of Representatives passed on third and final reading both the ARISE and the CURES measures.