The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will implement a traffic management plan for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) slated on Monday, July 22, at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City.
MMDA Acting Chairman Atty. Don Artes said 1,329 personnel are tasked to manage both vehicular and pedestrian traffic; assist in emergency response; conduct rounds of road and sidewalk clearing operations; assist in crowd control; and traffic monitoring.
“We are in close coordination with the Task Force SONA 2024, Quezon City Police District, Presidential Security Command, House of Representatives, and Quezon City government to ensure a safe, peaceful and orderly SONA.”
“The MMDA is 100 percent ready for PBBM’s SONA. We are in close coordination with the Task Force SONA 2024, Quezon City Police District, Presidential Security Command, House of Representatives, and Quezon City government to ensure a safe, peaceful and orderly SONA,” Artes said.
The MMDA chief added that the agency will implement a “no day off, no absent” policy among the assigned personnel to ensure the effective delegation of functions during the conduct of SONA.
Motorists are advised to take alternate routes to avoid the anticipated heavy traffic.
As part of its traffic management plan, the MMDA shall implement a zipper lane or counterflow on the southbound portions of Commonwealth Avenue to give way to vehicles of government officials and guests going to the Batasang Pambansa Complex.
Batasan-IBP Road, meanwhile, will be closed to vehicular traffic at 8 a.m. onwards as part of security measures for the President’s 3rd SONA.
Motorists are advised to take alternate routes to avoid the anticipated heavy traffic along Commonwealth Avenue and in the vicinity of the Batasang Pambansa Complex, especially at about 3 p.m. when dignitaries start arriving.
ALTERNATE ROUTES:
NORTHBOUND (Quezon Memorial Circle to Fairview)
• Vehicles from Elliptical Road should take North Avenue, right turn at Mindanao Avenue, then right turn to Sauyo Road or take Quirino Highway to reach the point of destination.
SOUTHBOUND (Fairview to Quezon Memorial Circle)
• Vehicles from Commonwealth Avenue should take Sauyo Road or Quirino Highway, turn left at Mindanao Avenue, then turn left at North Avenue to reach the point of destination.
FOR LIGHT VEHICLES
• Light vehicles from C5 Road may turn left at Magiting St., turn right at Maginhawa St., turn left at Mayaman St. to Kalayaan Avenue to reach the point of destination.
FOR TRUCKS
• All trucks coming from C-5 along Katipunan Avenue should take Luzon Flyover then turn left at Congressional Avenue to reach the point of destination.
An MMDA Mobile Command Center, equipped with CCTV monitors, will be deployed at Batasan corner Commonwealth area. Moreover, SONA protest actions will be monitored at the newly enhanced MMDA Communications and Command Center located in Pasig City.
Ambulances, tow trucks, mobile patrol units, motorcycle units, and flood mitigation equipment, among others, will also be dispatched at designated routes and staging areas.
Traffic advisory signage will be installed along alternate routes to serve as a guide for motorists. Plastic barriers and traffic cones will also be put up along zipper lanes and affected roads.
Traffic flow is expected to ease within the vicinity of Batasang Pambansa after the President has delivered his SONA.
