MMDA to motorists: Avoid roads near Lady Gaga concert venue on May 21 and 22

For the next two days, motorists and commuters passing near the SM Mall of Asia in southern Metro Manila may have to take alternate routes due to the concert of controversial artist Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta a.k.a. Lady Gaga. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority issued the advice Sunday after receiving information tickets for the concert scheduled at 8 p.m. of May 21 and 22 had been sold out. A report on dzBB radio quoted the MMDA as saying motorists are particularly advised to avoid parts of Roxas Boulevard, Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) and Buendia. MMDA officials expect traffic in these areas to start piling up as early as 5 p.m., the report added. It advised motorists to take other roads including C-5, or use the South Luzon Expressway instead of Roxas Boulevard if going to Cavite. The report also said the MMDA is coordinating with MOA administration to open some roads to ease the traffic flow. But the MMDA advised motorists who have no pressing business in the MOA area to avoid the area if possible. Lady Gaga arrived in the country Saturday night for her concert, amid protests by conservative Christian groups who claimed the lyrics of some of her songs are anti-Christian. — LBG, GMA News