MANILA - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday released a list of alternate routes that it advised motorists to take, as some roads will be closed from traffic to allow the papal convoy exclusive use of these.
The MMDA led a dry run early Monday evening of the convoy's drive from Villamor Airbase, where the pope's plane will land at 5:45p.m. Thursday (Jan. 15), to the Apostolic Nunciature on Taft Avenue, Manila, where Pope Francis will be billeted during his five-day official and apostolic visit.
Besides advising motorists to be familiar with alternate routes on the hours that certain roads will be closed, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, urged attendees at Pope Francis’ events to avoid inconvenience by noting beforehand the areas designated for the public, including the parking assignments and drop-off points.
"Attendees may only occupy the portion of the roads assigned to them once the route has been cleared and upon the signal of the security personnel assigned thereat," the MMDA chief said.
From Villamor Air Base, the principal route of the papal convoy going to the Apostolic Nunciature will be closed from traffic at around 3 p.m.
The roads (approximately 22.30 kilometers) to be closed during the arrival of Pope Francis on January 15 are the following:
Villamor Airbase (Gate 5), Andrews Avenue, Domestic Road, NAIA Road, Roxas Boulevard, Quirino Ave. and Taft Avenue.
Other roads to be closed are: Sales Bridge, SLEX/ SKYWAY- Magallanes, Osmeña Highway and Quirino Ave.
With the closure of these roads, the MMDA expects the papal convoy to reach the Apostolic Nunciature in 45 minutes.
The MMDA advised motorists to take the following alternate routes:
*From Sucat Road Northbound:
Along Kabihasnan, turn right at Coastal Road, turn left at Pacific Avenue, turn left at Macapagal Blvd., turn right at EDSA, turn left at Arnaiz Avenue, turn right at Amorsolo St., turn left at Rufino st., turn right at Chino Roces Avenue, turn left at J.P Rizal, straight to Tejeron, to destination
* From EDSA to Coastal:
Along EDSA, turn left at Macapagal Blvd., left at Pacific Avenue, turn right at Coastal Road , to destination
* From Taft Avenue to Manila:
Option 1: Along Taft Avenue, turn right at P. Ocampo St., turn right at Arellano Avenue, turn left at Zobel Roxas, turn left at Onyx, to destination.
Option 2: Along Taft Avenue, turn right at Ocampo St., turn left at Arellano Avenue, left at Estrada, turn right at Singalong, right at Esguerra, turn left at Angel Linao, to destination.
*From Luneto to Paco:
From Luneta, take T.M. Kalaw or Pedro Gil, to destination.
* From Taft Avenue/ Ayala Blvd. to Sta. Ana:
Along Taft Avenue, turn left at Pedro Gil to destination.
The MMDA will place plastic barriers at tributary roads. It also advised the public to use the tributary roads in proceeding to the ceremonial route.
Attendees may proceed to the immediate vicinity of the ceremonial route starting 2 p.m.
"Attendees may only occupy the portion of the road assigned to them once the route has been cleared and upon the signal of the security personnel assigned there at," MMDA said.
The MMDA advised people wishing to welcome Pope Francis to be at the venue hours before the closure of the principal routes.
The parking provision and drop-off points are as follows:
Mall of Asia (MOA), Resorts World, NAIA Terminal 3 parking, Rizal Memorial Stadium, Harrison Plaza, CCP Complex and PAGCOR parking area.
The possible converging areas for people (well wishers) are: Along Andrew Ave., Circulo del Mundo, Along Airport Road, Along Domestic Road, Along NAIA Road, AlongRoxas Blvd., Along Quirino and Along Taft Avenue.
The MMDA said there will be a lockdown of the whole block of Taft Avenue, Quirino Ave., Leon Guinto and Dagohoy starting 1 p.m. from January 14 to 10 a.m. of January 19--where the Apostolic Nunciature is located.
The Quirino-Taft LRT station will be non-operational and there will be closure of portion of Quirino Avenue from Roxas Boulevard to Leon Guinto.
"Motorists are allowed to cross this road portion except within two hours prior to use by the Pope convoy," the MMDA said.
For the January 16 Malacanang Palace call by Pope Francis on President Benigno S. Aquino III, the MMDA will also close to traffic the principal route-roads starting 6 a.m.
The following principal route-roads to be closed are: Taft Avenue, President Quirino Avenue, Nagtahan, JP Laurel as well as Roxas Blvd., P. Burgos, Finance Road, Ayala Blvd., P. Casal, and Gen. Solano.
Motorists are advised to take the following alternate routes:
* Along Taft Avenue northbound
*Along Taft Avenue, turn right at P. Ocampo St., turn left at Arellano St., left at Estrada St., turn right at Singalong, right at Esguerra, turn left at Angel Linao, to Gen. Luna St., Romuladez St.,/Belen, turn right to Padre Faura to destination
*Along Taft Avenue southbound
*Along Taft Avenue, turn right at Padre Faura, left at m. Adriatico or MH Del Pilar to destination
*Along President Osmena Highway northbound
* Along President Osmena Highway, turn right San Andres, turn left at A. Francisco St., left at Onyx St., turn right at Pedro Gil, straight to New Panaderos, turn left F. Sanchez, left at V. Mapa, straight to R. Magsaysay Blvd., to destination
*Along Roxas Blvd. to Makati
*Along Roxas Boulevard, turn rught at Buendia Avenue to destination
During the Pope's travel to Malacañang Palace, well-wishers are advised to converge at the following areas: Along Taft Avenue, along Quirino Avenue, Nagtahan and along JP Laurel St.
Malacanang to Manila Cathedral leg
From Malacañang, the Pope will proceed to Manila Cathedral on Friday, and the MMDA will also close to traffic the principal route at around 8 a.m.: Gen. Solano, P. Casal, Ayala Bridge, Finance Road, P. Burgos Avenue, Bonifacio Drive, Anda Circle and Andres Soriano Jr. Avenue.
Other roads to be closed are: JP Laurel St., Nagtahan Bridge, Paz Guazon Avenue (Otis), UN Avenue, Maria Orosa, Finance Road and General Luna St.
People who wish to attend the event may use the following parking provision and drop off points: Arlegui St., Nepomuceno St., Gen. Solano St.,
Nicanor Padilla St., SM Manila, Park n’ Ride Lawton, Manila Post Office and Intramuros Area.
The MMDA advised motorists to take these alternate routes, which will be opened from 8 a.m. onwards:
*Along R-10 Eastbound
*Along R-10 take service road then turn left at C.M. Recto turn left at Legarda, to R. Magsaysay Boulevard to destination.
*Along R-10 Southbound
*Along R-10 take service road then turn left at Muelle Della Industria, left at Barcelona, turn right at San Fernando, right at Juan Luna, turn left at San Vicente, turn right at Jones Bridge to destination.
*All vehicles utilizing three bridges (Jones Bridge, McArthur Bridge and Quezon Bridge) Southbound
*Take Lagusnilad, to Taft Avenue (take northbound lane)
*Along Roxas Blvd Northbound
*Along Roxas Blvd turn right at T.M. Kalaw, turn left at Taft Avenue, straight to P.Burgos, take Jones Bridge to Q. Paredes straight to Reina Regente, to C.M. Recto to destination.
*Along A.H. Lacson Westbound
*Along A.H. Lacson, turn right at Legarda, right at C.M. Recto, take U-turn then right at Quezon Blvd., to destination.
From Cathedral back to Nunciature
From Manila Cathedral, the Pope will travel back to Apostolic Nunciature, and the following roads will also be closed starting 10 a.m.: Gen Luna, Soriano Ave, Anda Circle, Bonifacio Drive, Roxas Blvd., Quirino Ave, and Taft Ave.
Motorists are advised to take the following alternate routes:
*All vehicles utilizing three bridges (Jones Bridge, MacArthur Bridge and Quezon Bridge) Southbound
*Option 1. Take Lagusnilad to Taft Ave. (take northbound lane), turn left at Pedro Gil/Malvar/ Remedios, turn right at Singalong, right at Estrada, to destination
*Option 2: Along P/ Burgos, turn left at Maria Orosa, turn right at TM Kalaw, turn left at MH Del Pilar St., left at Pedro Gil, turn right at M. Adriatico to destination
*Along Taft Avenue Northbound:
Along Taft Ave, turn right tat P. Ocampo St, turn left at Arellano, left at Estrada, turn right at Singalong st., right at Esguerra St., turn left at Angel Linao St., to Gen. Luna St, turn right at Romualdez St, straight to Natividad Lopez St, to destination
*Along R10 Southbound:
Along R10, take service road then turn left at Muelle Dela Industria, left at Barcelona, turn right at San Fernando, right at Juan Luna, turn left at San Vicente, turn right at Jones Bridge, to destination
*Along R10 Northbound:
Along R-10, take service road then left at CM Recto turn left at Legarda, turn right at Nagtahan, straight to Pres Quirino Ave, turn left at Pres Osmena Highway to Destination
*Along Roxas Blvd.:
Along Roxas blvd, turn right at Vito Cruz, turn right at Arellano St, turn left at Zobel Roxas Ave, left at Pres Osmena Highway, turn right at Pres. Quirino Avenue, left at Legarda, straight to CM Rector to destination
At SM MOA Arena
On Friday afternoon, the Pope is also scheduled to grace a meeting of families at SM MOA Arena, and some roads will be closed starting 2 p.m.
The following principal roads to be closed include: Taft Avenue, Quirino Avenue, Roxas Blvd., Edsa Extension, JW Diokno as well as P. Ocampo St. and Bukaneg St.
The parking provision and drop-off points include: JW Diokno Blvd, Seaside Blvd, SM MOA Parking Space, Rizal Memorial Stadium, Harrison Plaza, Manila Zoo and CCP Complex.
Possible converging areas for people include: along Edsa, along Globe Rotunda, along JW Diokno Rotunda, along Marina Way, along Coral Way, along Pacific Drive, Roxas Blvd, P. Quirino Ave., and Taft Avenue.
Motorists are advised to take the following alternate routes:
*Along Roxas Blvd. Southbound:
Along Roxas Blvd., turn left at T.M. Kalaw or Pedro Gil, to destination.
*All vehicles utilizing three bridges (Jones Bridge, Mc Arthur Bridge and Quezon Bridge) southbound take Lagusnilad to Taft Avenue, turn left at Pedro Gil, turn right at Singalong, tunr left t Pres. Qurino Avenue, turn right at Pres. Osmeña Highway, to destination.
*Along Pres. Qurino Avenue Southbound:
Along Pres. Quirino Avenue, turn left at Pres. Osmeña Highway, to destination.
*Along Pres. Quirino Avenue Northbound:
Along Pres. Quirino Avenue, take Plaza Dilao to Pres. Qurino Avenue Extension, turn left U.N Avenue, to destination.
*Along Taft Avenue Northbound:
Along Taft Avenue, turn right at Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue, take U-turn to Dominga St., right at Vito Cruz, turn left at Arellano, left at Estrada, turn right at Singalong, right at Esguerra, turn left at Angel Linao, to destination.
*Along Coastal Road/ Roxas Blvd.:
Along Coastal Road/ Roxas Blvd., turn right at EDSA, to destination.
Attendees are advised to use the tributary roads in proceeding to the ceremonial route and proceed to the immediate vicinity starting 1 p.m.