MANILA, Philippines – Use these roads — if you want to test your patience and cool during the holiday season.
This was the message from the Manila City government as it issued an advisory to motorists on the eight major areas in the city they should avoid this Christmas season, unless they have business in those areas.
Vice Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso emphasized patience when driving on these roads as the local official explained the advisory from the Manila District Traffic Enforcement Unit.
“Traffic in these areas will only worsen as Christmas approaches, for various reasons,” Domagoso said in a statement. “Motorists should avoid these areas, unless they have business there. If they can’t help but pass through these areas, they should bring with them heaps of patience.”
According to the advisory, motorists should avoid passing through the Divisoria area, particularly along C.M. Recto Avenue from Rizal Avenue up to Delpan, and on Abad Santos Street from Bambang to Reina Regente Street, because of the large volume of Christmas shoppers going to the area, as well as the unfinished road construction along Recto.
Drivers have also been advised to avoid the Plaza Ruiz Area, from Jones Bridge to Reina Regente, and the Plaza Sta. Cruz Area in Rizal Avenue, from McArthur Bridge to Recto, also because of the influx of shoppers to Divisoria. There are also unfinished road works along Avenida.
The advisory also urged motorists to avoid the Quiapo Area, especially during rush hour, because of the number of people hearing Midnight Mass at the Quiapo Church.
Trucks passing along Road 10, Bonifacio Drive, P. Burgos, Ayala Boulevard, San Marcelino, Romualdez, Quirino Avenue, and Osmeña Highway, are also expected to cause heavy traffic on these roads. Traffic jams are also expected along Roxas Boulevard.
Finally, the city government said that Blumentritt and Aurora Boulevard, as well as the V. Mapa Extension and Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, could also clog up especially during the rush hour, because of the volume of vehicles coming from Quezon City and San Juan, as well as unfinished road works in V. Mapa.
While these roads are expected to be clogged with traffic as Christmas approaches, the city government expects traffic to ease along Taft Avenue starting Dec. 20, when the various schools and colleges in the area close for the Christmas and New Year holidays.