MMDA holds papal convoy dry run

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) conducted yesterday afternoon a dry run on the arrival of Pope Francis and the trip of the papal convoy from Villamor Airbase to the Apostolic Nunciature of The Holy See.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the schedule of simulation was set upon request of Vatican officials.

“The Vatican wanted the dry run done during rush hour. We do not have any more time to do this,” said Tolentino. The route was closed to traffic at 5 p.m.

Tolentino added that the dry run would also simulate the actual speed of the popemobile that will be traveling at around 12 kilometers per hour during the trip from Villamor Airbase in Pasay to the Nunciature in Manila.

For yesterday’s dry run, Tolentino said the MMDA only deployed 1,000 of its traffic personnel or half of its committed personnel for the pope’s visit.

Tolentino said that aside from MMDA, the units that participated included the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), which deployed 16,000 police officers, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines that deployed 6,262 personnel.

Yesterday’s event used two of three popemobiles. One looks like a Philippine jeepney and the other a customized Isuzu D-Max pickup truck. Riding the popemobiles were stand-ins for the pope and the Vatican secretary of state, Tolentino said.

In yesterday’s dry run, the papal motorcade passed through the southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard with the regular traffic allowed to pass through a zipper lane on the northbound lane.

Tolentino said that on Thursday, there would be no zipper lane northbound of Roxas Boulevard, as the lane will be allotted for those who may want to see the papal motorcade.

Meanwhile, the MMDA yesterday bared its traffic management plan for the papal visit that officially starts with the arrival of Pope Francis from Sri Lanka at 6 p.m. The MMDA expects the pope to arrive at the Nunciature at 6:45 p.m.

Tolentino said some 22.30 kilometers of roads from Gate 5 of the Villamor Airbase to Taft Avenue would be closed to traffic at 3 p.m. or three hours before the pope’s expeted arrival at the airbase.

To be closed to traffic at 3 p.m. on Jan. 15 are Villamor Airbase Gate 5, Andrews Avenue (5.50 km), Domestic Road (2.32 km), NAIA Road (1.60 km), Roxas Boulevard (10.64 km), Quirino Avenue (1.98 km), Taft Avenue (0.26 km).

Also to be closed to traffic starting 3 p.m. are Sales Bridge (2.32 km), SLEX/Skyway Magallanes (3.84 km), Osmeña Highway (9.12 km) and Quirino Avenue (1.86 km).

Tolentino said these roads would be closed as these will be used by members of the pope’s delegation and the international media.

Tolentino said plastic barriers would be placed at tributary roads, and those wanting to see the pope’s convoy should park their vehicles at the Mall of Asia (MOA), Resorts World, NAIA Terminal 3, Rizal Memorial Stadium, Harrison Plaza, Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex and the PAGCOR parking lot.

The MMDA also identified the following areas as possible converging areas for people: Along Andrews Avenue, Circulo del Mundo, Airport Road, Domestic Road, NAIA Road, Roxas Boulevard, Quirino Avenue and Taft Avenue.

The MMDA said the closed roads would be opened as soon as the event is finished.

The MMDA also identified the following as alternate routes: From Sucat Road northbound: along Kabihasnan, turn right at Coastal Road, left at Pacific Avenue, left at Macapagal Blvd., right at EDSA, left at Arnaiz Avenue, right at Amorsolo St., left at Rufino St., right at Chino Roces Avenue, left at J.P Rizal, straight to Tejeron, to destination.

From EDSA to Coastal: along EDSA, turn left at Macapagal Blvd., left at Pacific Avenue, right at Coastal Road, to destination.

From Taft Avenue to Manila: option 1: along Taft Avenue, turn right at P. Ocampo St., right at Arellano Avenue, left at Zobel Roxas, left at Onyx, to destination.

Option 2: along Taft Avenue, turn right at OCampo St., left at Arellano Avenue, left at Estrada, right at Singalong, right at Esguerra, left at Angel Linao, to destination.

From Luneta to Paco: take T.M. Kalaw or Pedro Gil, to destination. From Taft Avenue/ Ayala Blvd. to Sta. Ana: along Taft Avenue, turn left at Pedro Gil, to destination.

Tolentino advised the public to be at the motorcade route by 2 p.m. He added that the public could only occupy the portion of the road assigned to them once the route has been cleared and upon the signal of the security personnel assigned there.

On the pope’s second day (Jan. 16), when he will be traveling from the Nunciature to Malacañang, the MMDA said affected roads would be closed to traffic at 6 a.m.

To be closed are: Principal route – Taft Avenue (0.26 km), President Quirino Avenue (6 km), Nagtahan (1.56 km), J.P. Laurel (2.08 km). Other roads to be closed: Quirino Ave. (1.98km), Roxas Blvd., (4.6 km) P. Burgos (1.18 km), Finance Road (0,54 km), Ayala Blvd. (1.14 km), P. Casal (0.58 km), and Gen. Solano (1.58 km.)

The MMDA has set the following as alternate routes: starting at 6 a.m: Along Taft Avenue northbound – turn right at P. Ocampo St., left at Arellano St., left at Estrada St., right at Singalong, right at Esguerra, left at Angel Linao, to Gen. Luna St., Romuladez St. and Belen, turn right to Padre Faura to destination.

Along Taft Avenue southbound – turn right at Padre Faura, left at M. Adriatico or M.H. del Pilar to destination.

Along President Osmeña Highway northbound turn right San Andres, left at A. Francisco St., left at Onyx St., right at Pedro Gil, straight to New Panaderos, left F. Sanchez, left at V. Mapa, straight to R. Magsaysay Blvd., to destination.

Along Roxas Blvd. to Makati turn right at Buendia Avenue to destination.

The MMDA advised the public to converge along Taft Avenue, along Quirino Avenue, Nagtahan and along J.P. Laurel St. if they want to see the pope’s motorcade on its way to Malacañang.

When the pope leaves Malacañang at 10:45 a.m. for the Manila Cathedral on Jan. 16, the MMDA said 7.76 km of affected roads will be closed to traffic at 8 a.m.

To be closed are Gen. Solano St., P. Casal, Ayala Bridge, Finance Road, P. Burgos Avenue, Bonifacio Drive, Anda Circle and Andres Soriano Jr. Avenue.

Other roads to be closed are J.P. Laurel St., Nagtahan Bridge, Guazon Avenue, UN Avenue, Maria Orosa, Finance Road and General Luna St.

For those wanting to see the pope’s motorcade from Malacañang to the Manila Cathederal, the MMDA has set the following as parking areas or drop-off points: Arlegui St., Nepomuceno St., Gen. Solano St., Nicanor Padilla St., SM Manila, Park n’ Ride-Lawton, Manila Post Office and Intramuros.

Other possible converging areas for the public are: along J.P. Laurel St., Gen. Solano St., P. Casal St., P. Burgos Avenue, Bonifacio Drive, Anda Circle and Soriano Avenue.

Alternate routes set by the MMDA are: along R-10 eastbound take service road then turn left at C.M. Recto, left at Legarda, to R. Magsaysay Boulevard to destination.

Along R-10 southbound take service road then turn left at Muelle Della Industria, left at Barcelona, right at San Fernando, right at Juan Luna, left at San Vicente, right at Jones Bridge to destination.

The MMDA said all vehicles utilizing three bridges (Jones, MacArthur and Quezon) southbound: take Lagusnilad, to Taft Avenue (northbound lane).

Along Roxas Blvd northbound turn right at T.M. Kalaw, left at Taft Avenue, straight to P.Burgos, and take Jones Bridge to Q. Paredes straight to Reina Regente, to C.M. Recto to destination.

Along A.H. Lacson westbound turn right at Legarda, right at C.M. Recto, take U-turn then right at Quezon Blvd., to destination.

For the pope’s event at the Mall of Asia Arena, the MMDA has identified the following as parking areas: JW Diokno Blvd., Seaside Blvd., SM MOA Parking Space, Rizal Memorial Stadium, Harrison Plaza, Manila Zoo and CCP complex.

Possible converging area for the public are: along EDSA, JW Diokno Rotonda, Marina Way, Coral Way, Pacific Drive, Roxas Blvd., Quirino Avenue and Taft Avenue.

Manila a no parking zone

The Manila city government has declared a no parking zone along Kalaw Avenue and Roxas Boulevard (from Kalaw to Pablo Ocampo St., formerly Vito Cruz) that was enforced starting yesterday until Jan. 19 for the duration of the papal visit.

Vice Mayor Isko Moreno said the no parking policy along Kalaw Avenue and Roxas Boulevard is part of Mayor Joseph Estrada’s directive to the city government to extend whatever resources are needed by the national government for Pope Francis’ visit.

The pope and his entourage are expected to pass through Roxas Blvd. when he arrives in Manila on Jan. 15.

“We are now clearing the roads and areas of concern for the pope’s visit. We are closely cooperating and coordinating with the national government to ensure a convenient travel of the pope during his five day visit to our country,” Moreno said.

Officials of the University of Santo Tomas announced that several roads would be closed to traffic on Jan. 18 for the pope’s visit to the school.

UST said that España Boulevard would be closed from Welcome Rotonda to Morayta Street; Lacson Street would be closed from Dimasalang to Nagtahan Bridge; Dapitan Street from Dapitan Sports Complex to Lacson Street; Piy Margal to Dos Castillas Streets; and the stretch of Padre Noval from Dapitan Street to España Boulevard.  – With Rudy Santos, Jose Rodel Clapano, Paolo Romero, Celso Amo, Ric Sapnu