Traffic heavy for SONA, re-routing scheme implemented

MANILA, Philippines—Traffic has started to become heavy en route to Batasang Pambansa for President Benigno Aquino III’s State of the Nation Address Monday afternoon.

Motorists bound for Fairview via the Quezon Memorial Circle have been advised to abide by the following re-routing scheme being implemented by the Quezon City police district (QCPD):

* Northbound vehicles or vehicles coming from Quezon Memorial Circle going to Fairview must take the U-turn slot fronting Jocfer Building, and use part of the opposite lane, under the direction of traffic officers, up to the U-turn slot in San Simon Street fronting the Commission on Audit (CoA) building.

* All vehicles must take the U-turn slot at San Simon (Riverside) to go back to normal traffic flow towards Fairview. Vehicles of VIPs’ with authorized car passes will pass through the U-turn Slot in front of St. Peter Church going to the Batasan Complex.

*For southbound vehicles or those coming from Fairview going to Quezon Memorial Circle, traffic flow will be normal. However, motorists are advised to be very patient and bear with the temporary inconvenience, particularly if traffic is slow-moving than the usual.

Adding to the traffic jam is the massing of protesters who will be holding a program along Commonwealth Avenue.

QCPD director Chief Superintendent Benjardi Mantele said sufficient security and traffic personnel have been deployed to assist motorists who are affected by the heavy traffic.

A total of 7,800 policemen have been deployed to secure the vicinity and the actual venue of the Sona, Mantele said. Eight closed circuit television cameras are also strategically placed along Commonwealth Avenue, he said.

Source: Inquirer