Anti-pork groups gear up for big rally on Friday in Makati City

ANTIPORK CAMPAIGN. Political activist and actress Mae Paner—aka Juana Change—of the Members of Scrap Pork Alliance invites bus passengers to join the Million People March @Ayala on Friday on Ayala Avenue, Makati City. RAFFY LERMA

MANILA, Philippines—All is set for the Million People March on  Ayala Avenue in Makati City on Friday with  the city government’s approval on Tuesday of the organizers’ permit to rally.

Senior Supt. Manuel Lukban, Makati police chief, said the city administrator  had approved the  organizers’ request  to use the corner of Ayala Avenue and Paseo de Roxas as the site for the mass action against pork barrel,  more formally known as Priority Development Assistance Fund, on Friday.

The event is  a follow-through  on  the mammoth rally  of various sectors  against the pork barrel held  at Manila’s Luneta Park on Aug. 26.

Lukban said the Makati police have sought assistance from the Southern Police District and National Capital Regional Police Office for the additional deployment of law enforcers to Ayala Avenue on Friday.

“We need at least 250 policemen to ensure peace and order, especially in areas near the Philippine Stock Exchange building on Friday,” Lukban said.

He said some 5,000 to 6,000 persons are expected to gather at the rally site from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday.

“But the organizers said the crowd could be bigger because several employees working in the central business district (CBD) might join the protest,” Lukban said.

The city government of Makati allowed organizers to set up a stage at the corner of Ayala and Paseo de Roxas as early as 10 a.m. on Friday.

At least five intersections at the CBD will be closed to vehicular traffic on that day.

These are: Paseo de Roxas- Salcedo, Ayala-Makati Avenue, Paseo de Roxas corner Sedeno, Ayala-Salcedo and  Paseo de Roxas cor Dela Rosa Street.

Dela Rosa Street will be turned into a two-way road on Friday, Lukban said.

“We advise motorists to avoid the CBD if they have no specific business there on Friday, and instead find alternate routes to take,” Lukban said.