Makati closes 9 major roads today

Nine major roads in Makati City will be closed to vehicular traffic today under Oplan Kaluluwa’s traffic management scheme.

The Makati Police Department’s Traffic Enforcement Unit (MPD-TEU) advised motorists to take alternate routes.

The roads that will be closed include Kalayaan Avenue from Zapote to Nicanor Garcia street, also known as Reposo; Nicanor Garcia street from J.P. Rizal Ave. to Kalayaan Avenue; South Avenue from J.P. Rizal to Metropolitan Avenue; Vito Cruz Extension from South Avenue to Zapote street; and Pililia Street from J.P. Rizal Avenue to Kalayaan Avenue.

MPD-TEU information said these roads lead to the Manila South Cemetery and the Makati Catholic Cemetery and need to be closed to make way for people walking to the cemeteries.

Department of Public Safety (DPS) Assistant Director Bartolome Agravante said other thoroughfares will be open to one-way or two-way traffic.

J.P. Rizal Avenue will be open to two-way traffic from Makati Avenue up to Trabajo street and one-way (eastbound) from Pasong Tamo to Trabajo street.

The Hippodromo street will be open to one-way (westbound) traffic but Pasong Tamo Street will be two-way; Nicanor Garcia street or Reposo will be one-way (northbound) from Jupiter/Metropolitan to Kalayaan Avenue and will be two-way from Jupiter to Gil Puyat Avenue.

Metropolitan Avenue will be one-way (eastbound) from Ayala Extension to Nicanor Garcia street while Kamagong Street will be one-way (eastbound) from Zobel Roxas up to Ayala Extension.

Agravante said all motorists from EDSA/Guadalupe going to Manila may turn right to Trabajo street then turn left to Hippodromo street towards A.P. Reyes Avenue.

The city’s engineering department will also build tents for medical personnel and will serve as information centers for the Makati Rescue and the Makati Health Department (MHD). There will be wooden stairs as well to avoid congestion at the entrance of the Makati Catholic Cemetery on Kalayaan Avenue.

The stairs will be constructed along Metropolitan and South Avenues and on Kalayaan Avenue along Mayon, J.B. Roxas and Pililia streets.

The MOD-TEU, DPS, and the MHD will team up with Makati Rescue and deploy personnel to provide 24-hour police visibility and first aid assistance to people who will be flocking to the cemeteries starting today.