MMDA to motorists: Avoid 'Bourne' shoot at EDSA-Taft

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is advising motorists to avoid the EDSA-Taft Avenue area near Tramo in Pasay City today as the upcoming spy thriller “Bourne Legacy” continues with its location shootings.

Yesterday, traffic in the area was snarled as the MMDA closed a portion of Taft Avenue and EDSA’s outer northbound lane to accommodate the parking of extra vehicles used by the production crew.

According to the MMDA, EDSA’s outer northbound lane from Taft Avenue to Tramo to the footbridge will be closed to traffic for today’s shooting, scheduled from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.

MMDA spokesperson Alu Dorotan said the shooting is not totally to be blamed for the snarled traffic as the Makati City’s anti-smoke belching unit also conducted an operation along Gil Puyat Avenue.

A source at the MMDA said yesterday’s shooting at the Tramo area involved the film’s lead character, Aaron Cross, jumping off the footbridge onto a speeding bus. The source said the stunt was performed not by Jeremy Renner (who plays Cross in the film) but a stunt double.

Dorotan added that the traffic jam was made worse by the number of “usiseros” or people wanting to watch the shooting. To remedy the situation, Dorotan said MMDA traffic enforcers removed the bus loading and unloading bays at Tramo and moved the U-turn slot from in front of the Heritage Hotel to the other side of Roxas Boulevard.