Zubiri: Expect heavy traffic when PH hosts 31st AsPac Parliamentary Forum

Typical traffic situation on Edsa. (File photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Heavy traffic is anticipated in several parts of Metro Manila in time for the holding of the 31st Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF), said Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri on Wednesday.

“We are very busy so I apologize to our compatriots, to the public, because we will have traffic jams here in the Manila area particularly in Pasay,” Zubiri told reporters in a briefing.

The APPF will be held at the Philippine International Convention Center from November 23 to November 25.

Zubiri said they will also host a dinner in Bonifacio Global City on Friday, November 24, and Makati Shangri-La on November 25, so there might also be heavy traffic within the areas.

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“So humihingi po kami ng paumanhin baka magtaka ang mga kababayan natin na napakaraming wangwang, napakaraming escorts, at maraming bus at mga sasakyan na naka-escort. Dahil po yan sa mga member parliaments,” Zubiri added.

(So we apologize in case our compatriots wonder why there are so many sirens, so many escorts, and so many buses and cars with escorts. That’s because of the member parliaments.)

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According to the Senate chief, several heads of parliaments will also be joining the APPPF, not only member parliaments.

Earlier, Zubiri told reporters that at least 273 participants from 18 countries have so far registered for the forum.