MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Monday it will deploy 1,300 personnel on thoroughfares surrounding the Batasang Pambansa while the Quezon City Government will continue its free service program for commuters on the day of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s third State of the Nation Address.
In a statement, the MMDA said it will deploy over 1,300 personnel along Commonwealth Avenue and thoroughfares around Batasang Pambansa to manage the traffic around the area.
The MMDA likewise announced that it will implement the Expanded Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or number coding scheme from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, Monday, in observance of Marcos’ third SONA of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
Vehicles with license plates ending in 1 and 2, which fall under coding every Monday, are prohibited from traveling on the streets of Metro Manila, it said.
The MMDA will also implement a zipper lane and close selected streets and it advised motorists to use alternative routes instead.
According to the bureau, vehicles exempt from coding include public utility vehicles, transport network vehicle services (TNVS), motorcycles, garbage trucks, marked government vehicles, petroleum trucks, marked media vehicles, fire trucks, ambulances, and those transporting perishable and/or essential goods.
Meanwhile, in a separate statement, the Quezon City Government said its QCity Bus, which offers free rides to commuters, will remain fully operational on the day of Marcos’ SONA to cater to all the commuters in the area.
Over eight routes in the area will remain operational from Quezon City Hall to other drop-off points including:
1 QC Hall to Cubao
2 QC Hall to Litex / IBP Road
3 Welcome Rotonda to Aurora Katipunan
4 QC Hall to General Luis
5 QC Hall to Mindanao Ave. via Visayas Ave.
6 QC Hall to Gilmore
7 QC Hall to C5 / Ortigas Ave. Ext.
8 QC Hall to Muñoz
