3 Manila roads closed Tuesday for Iglesia ni Cristo gathering

Published February 27, 2012 7:33am

At least three major roads in Manila will be closed on Tuesday for the Grand Evangelical Mission gathering of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) at the Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park.

Manila police advised motorists and commuters to avoid these roads starting noon Tuesday, according to a report on radio dzBB early Monday.

To be closed in time for the gathering are Katigbak Drive, South Drive, and Independence Road, the report quoted the Manila Police District’s traffic enforcement unit as saying.

Parking areas for motorists with car passes include:

the north wing of Quirino Grandstand (fronting Police Community Precinct) for VIPs
South Drive from Roxas Blvd. to Independence Road for motorists with car passes
stretch of Roxas Blvd. from P. Burgos to P. Ocampo north and southbound lane (one lane only) for buses
stretch of Bonifacio Drive north and southbound lanes from 25th St. to Anda Circle (one lane only)
Philippine International Convention Center Complex
Paco Park for buses.

Open to light vehicles are:

T.M. Kalaw east and westbound (one lane) near the sidewalk from Roxas Blvd. to Ma. Orosa St.
Roxas Blvd. service road from T.M. Kalaw to P. Ocampo
eastbound of P. Burgos over the sidewalk from Roxas Blvd. to Ma. Orosa
northbound lane of Bonifacio Drive over the sidewalk from the 25th St. to Anda Circle.

Bonifacio Drive service road is open to motorcycle riders, the report said.

On the other hand, participants in Tuesday’s gathering will have to be dropped off at Roxas Blvd. southbound, fronting the Carabao statue.

The dzBB report quoted the MPD as saying affected motorists may pass Quirino Avenue to Nagtahan or Taft Avenue to Jones, MacArthur or Quezon Bridges.

Meanwhile, a separate dzBB report said police have prepared adequate security for Tuesday’s event.

It said the Metro Manila police claimed there is no intelligence report of any threat to the gathering.

For its part, the MPD said Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim ordered the deployment of ambulances to render first aid to participants who may need it.

On Sunday, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte appealed to participants in the upcoming gathering not to litter the grounds and clean the place after the gathering.

Although some sectors speculated the gathering is meant to show support for impeached Chief Justice Renato Corona, whose lead counsel former Justice Secretary Serafin Cuevas is an active INC member, Valte said as far as she knows, it is an activity of INC.

“Sa aking pagkakaalam, activity mismo 'yan ng INC [Iglesia ni Cristo] para sa kanilang myembro," she said on government-run dzRB radio on Sunday. –KG, GMA News

Tags: iglesianicristo, quirinograndstand, coronaimpeachment