Manila to close roads for three-day rallies

MANILA, Philippines — Several roads in Manila will be closed to motorists starting today when the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) begins its three-day prayer rallies.

Declared off-limit to vehicles are portions of roads surrounding Rizal Park and Quirino Grandstand where the prayer rally will be held: Bonifacio Drive, Roxas Boulevard, Katigbak Drive, South Drive, Independence Road, Kalaw Avenue, P. Burgos Avenue, Maria Orosa Street, Finance Road, Roundtable and Mabini Street.

According to an advisory from the Manila Public Information Office, motorists can use Taft Avenue, other parts of P. Burgos Avenue, M.H. del Pilar Street, Roxas Boulevard service road, United Nations Avenue, Anda Circle and roads inside Intramuros as alternate routes.

Trucks can use Quirino Avenue, Capulong Street, Yuseco Street and Lacson Avenue.

The city government said portions of Recto Avenue and Legarda Street near Mendiola Bridge as well as Magallanes Drive near Liwasang Bonifacio, Ayala Bridge and Ayala Avenue near a gate in Malacañang will also be closed to traffic.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority would deploy a total of 1,815 personnel for the rally. The MMDA also placed on standby its ambulances, rapid response vehicles and tow trucks for the event.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno earlier announced that in-person classes in the city would be suspended on Nov. 17 and 18 to give way for the rallies.

SPD, Region 3 send augmentation units

Meanwhile, the Southern Police District and Central Luzon regional police office deployed a total of 2,887 of their personnel – 610 from SPD and 2,277 from CLRPO – to help secure the rallies.

Brig. Gen. Randy Arceo, SPD acting district director, said officers from the District Mobile Force Battalion, district headquarters and support units would be tasked to maintain crowd control, traffic flow and emergency response during the three-day activity.

Arceo reminded the deployed officers to maintain peace and order while respecting the rights of participants and observing professional conduct.

He stressed that the Philipine National Police should serve as partners of the community in promoting safety during public assemblies.

The SPD said measures are in place to ensure a peaceful and orderly rally and urged participants to follow police instructions and observe regulations throughout the event.

At Camp Olivas in Pampanga, Central Luzon police director Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Peñones Jr. said units are ready to provide the augmentation force needed by the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) to secure both the rallies in Manila and Quezon City.

Peñones said the deployed personnel would observe maximum tolerance, courtesy and professionalism while working with stakeholders in maintaining peace and order.

“Our personnel are fully prepared to support the NCRPO and ensure that the activity remains safe, orderly and peaceful. The INC community is known to be peace loving and disciplined. We are confident that the event will proceed calmly. Our police deployment aims to ensure the safety of all rallyists and the smooth conduct of the entire activity,” Peñones said. — Mark Ernest Villeza, Ramon Efren Lazaro