Plan your drive north as ‘Tamang Panahon’ packs Arena

North Luzon Expressway. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

WITH 55,000 starstruck “AlDub” fans headed for the Philippine Arena in Bulacan province on Saturday, motorists bound for northern Luzon should plan their route if they want to avoid getting stuck in heavy traffic on North Luzon Expressway (NLEx).

Tickets for the “Sa Tamang Panahon” grand celebration of noontime show “Eat Bulaga” featuring Alden Richards and Maine Mendoza, sold out in just two days, ensuring that the arena—described as the largest indoor stadium in the world—will be packed.

Fans, however, have started a petition on Twitter, asking that the adjacent Philippine Sports Stadium (PSS) which has a maximum seating capacity of 25,000 be opened for a live viewing of the event.

“If these numbers are right, then people should really expect heavy traffic on NLEx on Saturday,” Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) officer in charge Emerson Carlos said.

Both the Arena and PSS were built by the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).  In July, about two million INC members attended the religious group’s centennial celebration at the sports arena. They were ferried to the site in an estimated 10,000 buses and 2,400 private vehicles.

Since most of the vehicles could not park near the venue, the MMDA designated parking areas in adjacent roads like the Sta. Maria bypass; Balagtas bypass on MacArthur Highway from Monumento to Calumpit, Bulacan; and a portion of Mindanao Avenue Extension.

“In anticipation of the [‘Eat Bulaga’] event, we will be deploying additional men to Balintawak and Mindanao Avenues in Quezon City,” Carlos said, referring to the NLEx’s entry and exit points. Maricar B. Brizuela