MANILA -- The Manila Police District (MPD) on Monday advised the public to take alternate routes as some roads would be closed during the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping on Nov. 20-21 (Tuesday and Wednesday).
The following roads that will be closed on Tuesday for the visit and wreath-laying activity of Chinese President Xi Jinping are:
* North and southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard from Katigbak Drive to P. Ocampo Street
* North and southbound lane of Bonifacio Drive from Anda Circle to Katigbak Drive; east and westbound lane of P. Burgos from Lagusnilad to Roxas Boulevard; east and westbound lane of Finance Road from Taft Avenue to P. Burgos; east and westbound lane of T. M. Kalaw from M. H. del Pilar to Roxas Boulevard; east and westbound lane of Pres. Quirino Avenue from M. H. del Pilar to Roxas Boulevard; east and westbound lane of P. Ocampo from Mabini to Roxas Boulevard; east and westbound lane of Ayala Boulevard from Solano to Taft Avenue and the stretch of Solano from P. Casal to J. P. Laurel Street.
The alternate routes are the following:
* All vehicles coming from F. B. Harrison Street shall turn right to P. Ocampo or go straight to Mabini to point of destination;
* All vehicles coming from three bridges (Jones, McArthur & Quezon) going to Roxas Boulevard via P. Burgos shall go straight to Taft Avenue to point of destination;
* All vehicles coming from Ayala Boulevard shall turn left or right to Taft Avenue to point of destination;
* All vehicles coming from westbound lane of T. M. Kalaw shall turn left to M. H. del Pilar to point of destination; and
* All vehicles coming from westbound lane of Pres. Quirino Avenue shall turn left to Adriatico Street to point of destination.
For truck route:
* All cargo trucks traveling Osmeña Highway should turn right on Pres. Quirino Avenue, straight ahead to Nagtahan Bridge, A. H. Lacson, Yuseco Street, crossing Jose Abad Santos Avenue and go straight to Raxabago and Capulong Streets to point of destinations;
* All cargo trucks intending to utilize southbound truck route coming from pier area should take the northbound lane of R-10, then turn right to Capulong straight to Yuseco Streets to A. H. Lacson Avenue to point of destination.
Earlier, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director, Chief Supt. Guillermo Eleazar said that 5,500 police officers will be deployed for the state visit of the Chinese President.
Eleazar said most of the cops who will be deployed are from Metro Manila but at least 200 personnel from the Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, Quezon) regional police office would serve as augmentation.
Those who would come from Calabarzon, according to Eleazar, are members of the Civil Disturbance and Management Unit.
Xi’s upcoming visit is his first in the Philippines, upon the invitation of President Rodrigo Duterte.
The two top officials are expected to sign five agreements, according to Malacañang.
Eleazar said among those who would be deployed are anti-riot cops in anticipation of possible protest actions in connection with the territorial dispute issue in the West Philippine Sea.
“There are possibilities of lightning rallies based on our monitoring, and we expect that every time there are visits from dignitaries from China and even from the United States,” Eleazar said in a radio interview.
“But we have no problem with that because we always encounter lightning rallies almost every day. We are ready, and we have CDM contingents,” he added.
Eleazar said they are in constant coordination with the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines in connection with security preparations.
“We are ready, and we are continuously coordinating with various government agencies that could help us,” said Eleazar.
Eleazar was also quick to clarify that the PNP is not being controlled regarding security arrangement for the visiting Chinese President, who is expected to have several meetings with President Duterte and other local officials.
He said coordination with security agencies of any visiting foreign top official is part of the protocol.
Eleazar said they are banking on the success of various international events held in the Philippines in terms of ensuring the safety and success of the visit of the Chinese President.
“Coordination in security efforts has always been part of our preparations in summits and international events like APEC, the ASEAN which had been a template on how to secure our guests and heads of states, including our VIPs and dignitaries," Eleazar said in Filipino. (PNA)
