The expected traffic congestion starting Saturday up to Monday must be so massive that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) had to develop a mobile app just to help motorists avoid the gridlocks to be caused by the Iglesia Ni Cristo (INC) centennial celebration on July 27.
The Android application will provide updates on the traffic situation on roads leading or adjacent to the INC gathering at the newly inaugurated Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan province, the MMDA said.
Launched on Wednesday, the app called “INC Sentenaryo” will monitor surrounding roads in Bocaue, Sta. Maria, Plaridel and Calumpit in Bulacan, as well as major thoroughfares in Metro Manila like Edsa, Commonwealth, Quezon Avenue, España, C5, Ortigas, Marcos Highway, Roxas Boulevard, South Luzon Expressway and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx).
MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino on Wednesday said the INC Sentenaryo app would also help the attendees find the nearest police station, hospital and fire station in the Bocaue area and also in Quezon City, Valenzuela, Navotas and Pasig.
Through the app, users can also have access to different emergency hotlines.
Earlier, the MMDA said several roads would be partially used as parking spaces for the INC members flocking to the 55,000-seater Philippine Arena.
This is because the arena grounds would be packed with worshippers, Tolentino said Thursday. “We decided to utilize the roads for faster queuing of vehicles and to avoid clogging NLEx.” Maricar B. Brizuela