Parts of Edsa, C-5 closed to traffic for Holy Week

File photo. EDWIN BACASMAS

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has advised motorists to avoid Edsa and C-5 as some portions of the major thoroughfares will be undergoing road reblocking from Maundy Thursday until Easter Sunday.

“Plan [your trips] properly and don’t [time your departure with the start of the] road reblocking. Also, leave Metro Manila early,” MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino told reporters at last week’s launching of Oplan Metro Alalay Semana Santa at the agency’s headquarters in Makati City.

In a statement, Emerson Carlos, MMDA assistant general manager for operations, said it was Department of Public Works and Highways-National Capital Region Director Reynaldo Tagudando who recommended that the roadwork be done during Holy Week “for maintenance purposes.”

Tolentino said the reblocking would start at 12:01 a.m. on Maundy Thursday and end at noon on Easter Sunday.

A list provided to reporters showed that those that would undergo reblocking on Edsa included some southbound lanes between Connecticut and Guadalupe Bridge in Mandaluyong City; the fourth and fifth southbound lanes between the Metro Rail Transit’s Guadalupe Station and Estrella Street; some northbound lanes from Guadalupe Bridge to Temple Drive in Mandaluyong City; and the fourth and fifth northbound lanes between Gil Puyat Avenue and Escuela Street.

On C5, affected areas would be some southbound lanes from Pasig Boulevard to Bagong Ilog Service Road; the second southbound lane from the sidewalk between Poseidon Street and Greenmeadows Avenue; and some northbound lanes between Valle Verde and the area of Resins Inc. and SM Warehouse.

The first southbound lane of Mindanao Avenue between Road 8 and North Avenue will also undergo repairs.

“This is less (roadwork) compared to last year, but definitely there is still an effect when people come back from the provinces. But they [DPWH] promised to finish everything,” Tolentino said.

To ensure the smooth flow of traffic, Crisanto Saruca, MMDA traffic discipline office head, said the agency reactivated on Friday its traffic management plan which will be in effect until April 6.

He said under the plan, more than 2,000 MMDA personnel would be deployed, broken down into 1,627 traffic constables from the MMDA Metrobase, 120 from the mobile patrol unit, 130 from the motorcycle unit, 40 from the Road Emergency Group, 200 from the Metro Parkway Clearing Group and 300 from the Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group.

“We will [focus our] attention [on] entry and exit points to and from Metro Manila, particularly the North Luzon Expressway, South Luzon Expressway, Coastal Road, MacArthur Highway, Marcos Highway, Mindanao Avenue and A. Bonifacio Avenue,” Saruca added.

Some personnel would also be deployed to “areas of concern,” including bus terminals, seaports and airports.

“And also, we expect devotees to flock to various churches,” Saruca said.

According to Tolentino, there will be no number coding from April 1 to 6 and on April 9.

He said the agency would inspect bus terminals and supervise the conduct of a breath analyzer test—which can detect whether or not a person was under the influence of alcohol—among drivers.

“We want to ensure that drivers of buses are not under the influence of alcohol before driving on the road. This is just part of our preparations for the Holy Week,” Tolentino said.

According to Saruca, the public can call the agency’s Metrobase hotline 136 for traffic updates and requests for help. The MMDA’s Facebook and Twitter accounts will also be up and running  for the duration of the Holy Week, he added. –Kristine Felisse Mangunay