Roxas Boulevard from Anda Circle to Pedro Gil closed to traffic Monday—police

From the Facebook page of BlogWatch.ph

MANILA, Philippines—Motorists are advised to take alternate routes Monday as several areas in the vicinity of Rizal Park in Manila will be closed to traffic for the “Million People March” on Monday.

Senior Police Officer 1 John Falonzon of Manila Police District-Traffic department said that as early as 6 a.m., both lanes of Roxas Boulevard from Anda Circle to Pedro Gil will be closed to light vehicles, while President Quirino Avenue will be closed to heavy vehicles.

He said vehicles coming from the southern part of Manila intending to use the stretch of Roxas Boulevard (northbound lane) shall turn right to President Quirinio Avenue for heavy vehicles, while light vehicles can take Pedro Gil Street to their destination.

Vehicles coming from the northern part of Manila intending to get through Roxas Boulevard (southbound lane) shall turn left to A. Soriano Street (Anda circle) all the way to Magallanes, to P. Burgos Street, to their point of destination.

He said closed roads will be reopened to traffic after the event. Organizers earlier said the march would start at 9 a.m. and end around 2 p.m.

Emerson Carlos, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Assistant General for Operations, earlier said that the agency would deploy about 350 personnel, including traffic enforcers, first-aid responders and street sweepers for the event.

Carlos also appealed to protesters not to bring their children to the gathering.

In a radio interview, Chief Superintendent Christopher Laxa, deputy regional director for operations of National Capital Region Police Office, said roughly 4,000 police officers were deployed for the event.

Police offices of the Manila Police District have been placed under full alert status since Sunday afternoon.

He also discouraged participants to bring backpacks to the event for security purposes.

Laxa, however, noted that entry points will be set up where all belongings will be subject for inspection.

“Para mapabilis yung daloy ng human traffic na papasok sa area, sana ma-avoid na yung magdala ng kung ano anong mga gamit,” Laxa said.

Since the Million People March event page was created last August 17, thousands from different sectors  have signified their intention to join the protest action against the pork barrel.

Reports had it that simultaneous protest actions will also be held in key cities of the country such as in Baguio, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Dumaguete, Cagayan De Oro Dagupan, and Puerto Princesa.

Bagong Alyansang Makabayan secretary-general Renato Reyes Jr. said many rally participants were unconvinced with President Benigno Aquino III’s pronouncement abolishing the lawmakers’ Priority Development Assistance Fund or PDAF.

The people are not buying Aquino’s “abolish pork ruse,” said Reyes.