Image courtesy of Makati traffic
MANILA, Philippines–As the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia commences on Wednesday, authorities advised motorist to take alternate routes in some parts of Metro Manila.
The Makati City Traffic Department, in its latest advisory, announced that some roads in Makati Central Business District will be closed starting 3 p.m. until 10 p.m. on Wednesday, the first day of WEF.
The three-day international conference, where around 600 delegates are expected to attend, will take place in different venues in the cities of Makati and Pasay.
It advised motorists to take alternate routes as the entire stretch of Ayala Avenue from the corners of Makati Avenue to Paseo de Roxas will be closed to traffic.
Meanwhile on Thursday, roads near the Makati Shangri-La Hotel will also be closed to traffic from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
On the last day of the conference, the same road at Makati Shangri-La Hotel, which will be the venue of some of the conferences, will be closed to traffic from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Meanwhile, the state-run Philippine News Agency said that the Metropolitan Manila
Development Authority (MMDA) has designated a special route for the delegates of the WEF.
”The special route will be from Ayala Avenue to Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) straight to Macapagal Boulevard going to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC),” Emerson Carlos, MMDA Assistant General Manager, said in a text message.
The special route, however, will still be open for motorists.
In a separate statement, MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said a temporary modified truck ban scheme will be enforced along Roxas Boulevard and Osmeña Highway on Thursday.
The truck ban in Manila will be extended to 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 11 p.m.
The regular truck ban schedule from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tolentino said, will resume on Friday.
“We would only like to assure the efficient mobility of the WEF delegates in our major thoroughfares, especially in Makati and Pasay areas where the forum’s major events will take place,” Tolentino said in the statement.
A total 1,000 personnel will deployed to secure the streets and assist motorists.
He also advised motorists to avoid the area around PICC on Thursday, particularly Gil Puyat Avenue and Roxas Boulevard between 4:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m.
At least two heads of state and hundreds of leaders from 30 different countries would proceed to the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) in Manila for a reception dinner.
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