MMDA releases Nazarene procession rerouting plan

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday released its rerouting plan for the annual Traslacion of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila on Wednesday.

In an advisory, the MMDA said some parts of Manila will be closed to traffic as early as Jan. 8 (Tuesday).

According to the MMDA, starting 8 a.m. Tuesday, Katigbak Drive and South Drive will be closed to traffic while the southbound lane of Quezon Blvd. (Quiapo) from Andalucia-Fugoso to Plaza Miranda and España-P. Campa-Lerma shall be closed to public utility vehicles starting 4 am of Wednesday.

The MMDA said that at 5 a.m. of Wednesday, the following streets will be completely closed to vehicular traffic: (North Area) 1. P. Campa/España; Nicanor Reyes/España; Andalucia/Fugoso; 3. Recto/Isetann (Service Road) and Raon/Evangelista while in South Area which includes Ma. Orosa/P. Burgos; Lagusnilad/P. Burgos; Taft/Finance/Westbound; A. Villegas/Taft Ave. (LRT); 25th Street/Bonifacio Drive; N.A. Lopez/A. Villegas; Anda Circle/Bonifacio Drive; Gen. Luna/P. Burgos; Roxas Blvd. T.M. Kalaw; and Katigbak/Roxas Blvd.

The procession of the Black Nazarene image starts at the Quirino Grandstand (Luneta), will turn right at Katigbak Drive through P. Burgos, left at Taft Ave. (P. Burgos) through McArthur Bridge, right at Palanca, through under Quezon Bridge, left at Quezon Blvd., right at Fraternal, right at Vergara, left at Duque de Alba, left at Castillejos, left at Farnecio, right at Arlegui, left at Nepomuceno, left at Aguila, right at Carcer, right at Hidalgo through Plaza Del Carmen, left at Bilibid Viejo through Puyat, left at Guzman, right at Hidalgo, left at Barbosa, right at Globo de Oro through under Quezon Bridge, right at Palanca and right at Villalobos through Plaza Miranda to Quiapo Church.

MMDA said the areas to be affected by the procession will expect heavy traffic such as a portion of  Roxas Blvd. and Bonifacio Drive from Anda Circle to T.M. Kalaw north and southbound lane;  southbound of Quezon Blvd. from Recto to Palanca; Lerma from P. Campa to Quezon Blvd; Taft Avenue/Finance (westbound lane); Lagusnilad/P. Burgos (westbound lane); P. Burgos/Taft Ave (Freedom Triangle-northbound lane); Villegas/N.A Lopez and 25th Street/Bonifacio Drive (southbound lane). 

Motorists are advised to take the alternative routes- (coming from Quezon City): take España, make a right at P. Campa, left Andalucia, right Fugoso, then a left at T. Mapua to point of destination.

Passenger jeepneys and light vehicles coming from España intending to proceed to South Pier Zone shall turn left Nicanor Reyes, right Recto straight to JAS, left at Reina Regente taking Jones Bridge, right at Magallanes Drive to point of destination.

Vehicles from north Manila going through Bonifacio Drive southbound are advised to make a right turn at Roberto S. Oca St., left at Delgado, left at 25th St., left at Bonifacio Drive (for Port Area offices) and then a right to A. Soriano to Magallanes Drive, right at P. Burgos, then straight to Lagusnilad to Taft Ave.

All vehicles coming from southern Manila going through P. Burgos are advised to take TM Kalaw, take a left at Taft Ave., right at A. Villegas, right at Quezon Bridge to their point of destination. The MMDA said the northbound lane of Quezon Blvd. will be open to traffic.

Vehicles coming from south Manila going through the northbound lane of Roxas Blvd. from P. Ocampo to P. Burgos shall make a right turn at T.M. Kalaw, left at Taft Ave. to point of destination.

Jeepneys plying the Monumento-Gasak-Recto route are advised to use Andalucia passing through Recto, then make a right turn at Oroqueta and then back to Monumento.

Vehicles coming from Legarda shall turn right at Recto or left at Mendiola to point of destination. Meanwhile, vehicles using Taft Ave. northbound shall turn right A. Villegas (Arroceros) right Quezon Bridge to point of destination.

Heavy vehicles and cargo trucks coming from the south shall take Pres. Osmeña, Pres. Quirino to Nagtahan via A.H. Lacson to Capulong (vice versa).

Motorists going to the north or south of Manila are advised to take A.H. Lacson to Nagtahan (vice versa) or take Road-10 to Roxas Blvd. (vice versa) to point of destination.

Buses coming from east Manila (such as G-Liner and RRCG buses) are advised to take Legarda, turn right at Palanca, then to Quiapo-Ilalim, to their point of destination.

Buses coming from Taft Ave. going to Fairview shall turn right at UN Ave. up to Otis, left at Nagtahan, straight at A.H. Lacson, right at España to point of origin. Buses coming from southern part of Manila, Laguna and Cavite using Taft Ave. are not allowed to enter from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and allowed only up to Remedios St. right at San Marcelino back to their point of origin.