MANILA, Philippines — The city of Manila will implement on December 23, Wednesday, a six-hour closure of roads affected by the Metro Manila Film Festival parade.
Manila Police District said the affected roads would be the southbound lane of Bonifacio Drive and Roxas Boulevard from Anda Circle to P. Ocampo street.
The closure will start from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.
According to MMDA Traffic Discipline Office head Cris Saruca, the parade will start at Coral Way, near the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, at 1 p.m. then make its way to JW Diokno then to Edsa Extension. It will end at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
Saruca said those planning to take the southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard would be rerouted to P. Burgos and TM Kalaw.
MPD’s traffic bureau said motorists traversing the southbound of Bonifacio Drive should take the third exit of Anda circle to Soriano Avenue to Intramuros.
They could also make a complete turn at the roundabout before exiting at the Bonifacio Drive.
Those who will go to Roxas Boulevard from TM Kalaw street are advised to turn left to MH del Pilar then left to Roxas Boulevard.
Those from President Quirino Avenue going to Roxas Boulevard are advised to turn left to Adriatic right to P. Ocampo, left to FB Harrison.
Vehicles on the westbound lane of P. Burgos Avenue are advised to turn right on Bonifacio Drive or make u-turn and traverse the eastbound lane.
The vehicles traveling westbound lane of UN Avenue going to Roxas Boulevard should also turn left MH del Pilar.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has warned the public of possible heavy traffic along Roxas Boulevard on Wednesday afternoon when the MMFF Parade of Stars will happen.
Saruca said thousands of Filipinos would likely watch the parade since the MMFF this year would be one of the most star-studded in its history.
“We are considering this as one of the biggest film festivals because of the number of big stars who appear in many of the entries,” Saruca said, particularly referring to the popular “AlDub” (Alden Richards-Maine Mendoza aka Yaya Dub) love team who star in “My Bebe Love” movie.
Saruca said about a thousand traffic enforcers would be deployed along the parade routes. The 17 local government units have also committed to help in the traffic management on Wednesday, Saruca added.
Eight floats for this year’s eight entries are expected to grace the MMFF Parade of Stars tradition.
Aside from “My Bebe Love,” the other entries are “The Beauty and the Bestie,” “Buy Now, Die Later,” “Haunted Mansion,” “Hermano Pule,” “All You Need is Pag-Ibig,” “Walang Forever,” and “Nilalang.”
These movies will be shown in all theaters nationwide from Dec. 25 to Jan. 7. SFM