Long walk for commuters as Roxas Boulevard closed for APEC summit

(Updated 4:54 p.m.) Many commuters from Cavite had to endure a long walk on Monday to be able to get to their work places in Manila and Makati, as roads were closed for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders' meet this week.

 

In a live phone report aired on News TV Live on Monday, GMA News' Mark Salazar said many commuters were forced to walk along Coastal Road, with the closure of Roxas Boulevard.

 

Commuters walked some 10 kms from coastal tollgate to edsa when #APEC2015 closed Roxas blvd on a workday-monday. pic.twitter.com/mdaighPv4Z

— Mark P. Salazar (@MarkSalazarGMA7) November 16, 2015

 

Buses and other vehicles stop at Talaba in Bacoor, Cavite, where the traffic has started to build up, he said.

 

Many of the commuters have to walk a stretch of about 10 kilometers to LRT-Taft at EDSA, he added.

 

This has irked many of the employees headed to work, with some opting not to go to office anymore, the report also said.

 

It added that others will be looking for a place to stay nearer to their work place since they could no longer endure the long walk on Monday morning.

 

According to Salazar, many of the commuters blamed this on the fact that their plight was not considered in the planning for the APEC summit.

 

They added that shuttle services should have been provided for commuters, the report also said.

 

'No way but to walk'

In an interview on Balitanghali, Chief Superintendent Arnold Gunnacao, head of the Philippine National Police's Highway Patrol Group, said it may not help even if the government provides shuttle service or even trucks for commuters.

Gunnacao said such vehicles would still be caught in heavy traffic caused by gridlocks on roads.

"Hindi rin ho makakapasok 'yung mga sasakyan," he said. "Kung magpapadala kami ng sasakyan, hindi rin ho makakapasok ang mga sasakyan dahil nga po gridlock. No way kung hindi maglakad po sila."

 

Gunnacao said the gridlocks are usually caused by motorists taking advantage of whatever opening they see.

"Ang problema lang po, kapag luluwag, meron namang sisingit na drivers. Magla-lock ulit, so walang magbibigayan. Gustong umalis agad doon sa lugar," he said.

Gunnacao said they have not implemented any changes in the rerouting plans they previously announced.

He also called on motorists to stay away from Roxas Boulevard, since they would not be able to pass through it, and instead take parallel streets such as M.H. Del Pilar Street, F.B. Harrison Street, and Mabini Street. —Rose-An Jessica Dioquino/KG/KBK, GMA News