Traffic lockdown in some areas for ASEAN Summit to proceed as planned

Traffic lockdown in areas that will be affected by the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit and Related Meetings will be implemented as planned by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

"Kung ito ho ay lockdown, hindi po puwedeng madaanan, buong vicinity ho ng area," MMDA Spokesperson Celine Pialago said in an interview on "News To Go" on Friday.

This is different from the protocol where security will stop cars at intersections for more than 20 minutes as ASEAN convoys pass.

But in some areas, there will be no lockdown, only stopping of vehicles at intersections.

"Hindi po lockdown ... pinahihinto lang po natin yung mga sa intersection. Stop and go po yun, for the convoys. Yung lockdown naman po, yun po sa areas na bawal pong puntahan," Pialago said.

Roxas Boulevard and Buendia to P. Burgos will be locked down on November 13 from 12 a.m. to 12 noon, a lockdown will be imposed in the CCP Complex partially on November 8 and in full on November 12, and the SMX Convention Center will be locked from 10 p.m. on November 11 to November 12.

Pialago clarified that only the vicinity of these areas will be closed and advised the public to use other routes they will establish for their convenience.

"Meron naman hong oras lang at meron naman tayong inihandang re-routing plan para ho sa mga motorista," she said. "Wag lang ho nating puntahan at that time para iwas tayo sa konting abala."

Routes that will be on high alert or closed off for use of leaders and diplomats participating in the ASEAN Summit include the Clark Complex, NLEX, SLEX, SCTEX, Roxas Boulevard, Ayala, Makati Avenue, Pasay, Lawton, to Makati.

Motorists should avoid the southbound lanes of EDSA, NLEX, SCTEX; and the north and southbound lanes of Roxas Boulevard from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. for the last dry run on Sunday. —Rie Takumi/LBG, GMA News