Commonwealth Ave. (File photo)
MANILA – National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director, Maj. Gen. Vicente Danao Jr., advised motorists to take alternate routes in Quezon City on Monday, the day President Rodrigo Duterte will deliver his sixth and final State of the Nation Address (SONA).
"Ngayon pa lang po ay humihingi na kami ng paumanhin sa ating mga kababayan na maaapektuhan ng traffic at re-routing para sa darating na SONA (We are now apologizing to those who will be affected by traffic and rerouting for the coming SONA),” Danao said in a statement on Sunday.
Danao said heavy traffic is expected particularly on roads leading to and from the Batasang Pambansa Complex where Duterte will deliver his SONA with a limited physical audience due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Konting tiis at pasensya lang po sana upang hindi tayo magkaroon ng problema at maayos na maidaos ang huling State of the Nation Address ng ating Pangulong Duterte (Just now, we apologize to the public who will be affected by traffic and re-routing for the upcoming SONA. Just a little patience so that we do not have problems and properly hold the last State of the Nation Address of our President Duterte),” he added.
By 6 a.m. Monday, Commonwealth Avenue (North Bound) will be closed for private vehicles which are advised to take the alternate route. Those from QCMC shall take North Ave., turn right to Mindanao Ave., or turn right to Visayas Ave. then turn left to Congressional or Tandang Sora Ave. then exit Mindanao Ave., turn right to Quirino Highway going to Commonwealth Extension passing thru right turn S&R Shopping Store landmark heading Southbound Lane.
Those individuals/commuters residing along Commonwealth Avenue to Fairview may take the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) Libreng Sakay service traversing along the said routes.
The entire stretch of IBP Road may lockdown if heavy traffic occurs starting at 6 a.m. All motorists re-routed from QCMC to Filinvest 1 and 2, Brgy Bagong Silangan and some inner portions of Brgy. Batasan Hills shall take Maharlika St., then turn left to Mayaman St., then turn right to Maginhawa St., turn left to Masinsinan St., then turn right to C.P. Garcia to Katipunan Ave., then take U-turn Slot in front of Miriam College then turn right to H. Ventura St, turn left to Heizer St. then turn right to Katipunan Ext, then take the left turn to JP Rizal to San Mateo road to destination.
Motorists from Filinvest 1 Subdivision affected by traffic lockdown at IBP Road take Luzviminda St. to Cotabato St. then turn left to Sinagtala St. to Congressional St. leading to Batasan-San Mateo Road and exit to Marikina Road to Destination.
Those from San Mateo Road to Filinvest 2 Subdivision/Bagong Silangan take Doña Franceska St. then turn left to Doña Juliana St. to King St. turn right to Don Vicente to Bagong Silangan/Filinvest Gate 2.
For those motorists from Capitol Hills and Vista Real Executive Village going to QCMC may counterflow using the inner lane of Commonwealth Ave. (Northbound) to Zuazeregui to Katipunan.
Danao also said signal jammers will also be installed in some parts of Quezon City as part of security preparations.
He also said the local government unit (LGUs) of Quezon City and the police have agreed to limit the area of those who want to protest to prevent the possible spread of Covid-19.
"Hanggang St. Peter's (Chapels in Tandang Sora, Quezon City) lang po maximum nilang puntahan. Unang-una, para 'di makaabala sa traffic, at pangalawa, dahil may kinakaharap na pandemic para magkaiwasan sa sakit na puwedeng makuha (Until St. Peter's (Chapels in Tandang Sora, Quezon City) is their maximum destination. First of all, so as not to disturb the traffic, and secondly, because there is a pandemic to prevent the spread of disease that can be contracted)," Danao said.
No threat monitored
Danao said more holistic and extensive security will be provided, urging the public to stay safe at home if they have no important business outside to prevent further transmission of Covid-19.
"We have not monitored any threat ahead but we are continuously coordinating with our member-agencies. Let me reiterate my plead to everyone to think of your safety as it is also our ultimate concern. We ask you to choose to stay safe at home with your family. Otherwise, please cooperate, be vigilant and alert during the event. Let us work together to make the last SONA of our President a safe and peaceful one," Danao said.
Danao said it is anticipated that militant sector groups will use Duterte’s last SONA to stage mass actions despite the pandemic.
“Therefore, it is necessary for the police force to intensify public safety and security operations not only to prevent the occurrence of violent incidents but also to ensure strict adherence to the health and safety protocols set by IATF,” he added.
He said 9,919 NCRPO personnel and 5,255 composite support units will be deployed particularly in Welcome Rotonda, UP Diliman, Tandang Sora, and Ever-Gotestco to IBP Road to ensure peaceful SONA.
Hold mass actions peacefully
Philippine National Police (PNP) chief, Gen. Guillermo Eleazar called on groups that are planning to stage rallies to hold mass actions peacefully.
He said as the PNP personnel observe maximum tolerance, groups conducting mass protests should also police their ranks and ensure that they also respect the mandate of policemen to serve and protect.
“Sa darating na Lunes, walang pipigil sa inyo sa magsagawa ng mga rally subalit inaasahan namin na ito ay gagawin sa paraan na hindi naman aapak sa aming mandato na panatilihin ang kapayapaan, kaayusan at kaligtasan ng bawat isa lalo na at may kumpirmasyon na ng local transmission ng Delta variant ng Covid-19 (This coming Monday, nothing will stop you from holding rallies but we hope that it will be done in a way that will not violate our mandate to maintain peace, order and safety of everyone especially with the confirmation of local transmission. of the Delta variant of Covid-19),” Eleazar said.
Eleazar directed police personnel to keep their tempers in check and remain professional, strictly observing maximum tolerance in dealing with groups staging mass actions.
“Sa nakalipas na limang SONA ng ating Pangulong Duterte, maayos na naipakita ng inyong Philippine National Police ang pagrespeto sa karapatan ng ating mga kababayan na magsagawa ng mga kilos-protesta upang ipahayag ang kanilang saloobin (In the past five SONAs of our President Duterte, your Philippine National Police has well-demonstrated respect for the right of our countrymen to hold protest actions to express their views),” he said.
Nevertheless, in the face of the Covid-19 Delta variant threat, Eleazar asked groups to seriously consider holding virtual activities in lieu of physical mass actions.
“Hanggang sa huling araw bago ang (Up to the last day before) SONA, I am urging these groups to hold their activities online to ensure safety amid the health crisis,” he said. “Hindi naman importante kung paano ginawa ang inyong aktibidad. Ang mahalaga ay naiparating ninyo ang mensaheng gusto ninyong mabatid ng ating mga kababayan (It doesn't matter how your activity is done. What is important is that you have conveyed the message that you want our countrymen to know).”
Eeleazar earlier suspended all permits to carry firearms outside of residence (PTCFOR) from July 21 to 28 in the National Capital Region as part of security preparations for Duterte's final SONA.
He also directed all police district directors to strengthen anti-criminality measures and police visibility operations all over Metro Manila.
“As usual, our police will exercise maximum tolerance but at the same time, we are appealing to the militant groups to do their share and police their ranks to ensure a peaceful and orderly SONA. Of course, our police are always alert and would not hesitate to use legal force if the protesters become unruly,” Eleazar said. (PNA)
