MANILA, Philippines?To ease traffic on the main roads going to cemeteries, the Parañaque city government devised alternate routes as the public commemorates All Souls Day over the weekend.

Paranaque Mayor Florencio Bernabe Jr. said the traffic management office coordinated with the United BF Homeowners Associations Inc., Teoville Sudivision and other neighboring enclaves to create alternate routes as they expected a bigger volume of vehicles and pedestrians, particularly on along Dr. Arcadio Santos Avenue (Dasa) where Manila Memorial Park and Loyola Memorial Park are located.

From Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, the traffic advisory said that starting at the Lopez Avenue-DASA intersection, Sucat-bound vehicles must take the Dasa inner lane while those going to MMP must stay on the middle and outer lanes.

Vehicles not intending to go to this park may opt to (take a short cut) turn right at Lopez Avenue, traverse El Grande and Aguirre, exit at President Avenue (BF Mcdo) and rejoin mainstream traffic on the east-bound lane of Dasa on the way to Sucat.

Vehicles going to Baclaran must take the outer lane, starting at the Dasa-President Avenue junction while those bound for MMP must stay on the middle and inner lanes. Motorists who do not intend to stop by MMP may elect to turn left at President Ave.-Dasa intersection, negotiate Aguirre, El Grande, exit at Lopez Avenue and merge with the west-bound Dasa traffic on the way to Baclaran.

Additional alternate routes to and from MMP are: Teoville Gate (along President Avenue, BF Mcdo) will be open on Nov. 1, from 6 a.m.-4 p.m. (entrance only) and 4:15-10 p.m. (exit only); it will also be open on Nov. 2 but for exiting vehicles only from 6 a.m.-6 p.m.

Bernabe said the Paranaque police will conduct mobile and foot patrols in the two memorial parks to maintain peace and enforce prohibitions on deadly weapons or illegal drugs; bringing or drinking liquor; gambling; playing loud music inside cemeteries; unruly behavior and other unlawful acts.

First-aid stations will also be set up in these cemeteries while the Parañaque social welfare department will have teams on standby to attend to children, elderly citizens and PWDs (persons with disabilities) who may get lost.