MMDA releases rerouting plan for anti-RH Bill rally

Published August 4, 2012 8:24am

Motorists and commuters passing through the EDSA Shrine area may have to take alternate routes starting 11 a.m. Saturday, as that portion of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue will be closed for a Church-led prayer rally against the Reproductive Health bill. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) released Friday afternoon its rerouting plan, which will take effect 11 a.m. "Traffic rerouting for the Prayer Rally from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. at EDSA Shrine. Expect Heavy traffic at EDSA and Ortigas," the MMDA said on its Twitter account. Details of the rerouting scheme are: For northbound vehicles

- Go right at Kalayaan and right at C.P. Garcia (C5) and take a U-turn slot to destination. - Go right at Shaw Boulevard and take U-turn at Kapitolyo Rotonda, right at Meralco Avenue, right at Ortigas Avenue, left at Green Meadows, left at Giraffe, right at Temple Drive, left at White Plaines, and back to EDSA. - Right at J. Vargas Avenue, right at St. Francis, left at Lourdes, left to San Miguel Avenue, right at J. Vargas, left to Meralco Avenue, right to Ortigas Avenue, left to Green Meadows, left at Giraffe, right at Temple Drive, left at White Plaines, and back to EDSA.

Southbound vehicles

- Go right at Santolan, left to Ortigas, then right to EDSA to destination. - Go right at Santolan, left to Ortigas, right at Wilson, left to P. Guevarra/Luna Mencias, left to Shaw Boulevard, to destination.

From Ortigas Avenue/C-5

- Go right at Gren Meadows, left to Giraffe, right at Temple Drive, left to White Plains, right to EDSA and left to Santolan, right to Granada/Gilmore, to destination. - Go left at Meralco Avenue, then right to Shaw Boulevard to destination.

From Gilmore (eastbound)

- Go left to Santolan then straight to Boni Serrano to C.P. Garcia Avenue (C-5) to Libis to destination. - Go left to Santolan then right to EDSA, then left to Ortigas flyover to destination.

Security measures Early on Friday, the MMDA and the Eastern Police District (EPD) met with organizers of Saturday's rally. "Kasama (namin) ang National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) para malatag nang maayos at hindi maisturbo ang flow ng traffic," MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said in an interview on dzBB radio, shortly before attending a meeting with the rally organizers. But Tolentino also indicated their task of maintaining smooth traffic flow may become complicated because of the University of the Philippines' College Admission Test (UPCAT).The UPCAT will be held at the UP campus in Diliman in Quezon City. On Saturday, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines will lead a rally against the RH bill at the EDSA Shrine. The rally is set to start at 1 p.m. A separate report by dzBB's Nimfa Ravelo said MMDA assistant general manager Emerson Carlos and EPD head Chief Superintendent Miguel Laurel met with the organizers at the meeting. Meanwhile, senators against the RH bill are expected to attend the Mass at Saturday's event. These include Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile and majority leader Vicente Sotto III, dzBB reported Saturday. — LBG, GMA News

Tags: antirhrally, familyplanning, rhbill, mmda