NCRPO issues last-minute traffic reminders for SONA day

Starting midnight Sunday, the northbound part of Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City will be closed to traffic, in time for President Benigno Simeon Aquino III's first State of the Nation Address. Metro Manila police spokesman Superintendent Rommel Miranda issued the reminder as he said traffic at the northbound lane starting at the junction of the Ever Gotesco mall area will be diverted to the southbound portion. “We are all set. Nagpa-polish kami ng security plans and operations. Nagmu-move-through kami sa dadaanan ng rallyist (We are all set and are just polishing our security plans. We are now moving through the areas where protesters will pass)," he said in an interview on government-run dzRB radio. Miranda reiterated the police will not allow wangwang (sirens and blinkers), except for ambulances and fire trucks. He noted Aquino himself will not use sirens. Aquino had blasted the wangwang as a symbol of inequality in his inaugural speech last June 30. “Absolutely wala tayong papayagang mag-wangwang o gumamit ng blinker unless allowed ng batas tulad ng ambulance at fire truck. Kahit sasakyan ng congressman o dignitaries di natin papayagan (Absolutely we will not allow wangwang or blinkers except on ambulances and fire trucks)," he said. On Saturday, Metro Manila police polished their security preparations for the SONA. Miranda said that of at least 8,000 police personnel in Metro Manila for SONA Day, 5,000 will be deployed around the Batasan Complex where Aquino will deliver his SONA. He said their preparations remain centered on traffic, dealing with protesters, and stopping criminals who may exploit the situation. “Patuloy ang intelligence gathering para sa maaring mangyari ... Ang concern natin ang rally, traffic at krimen (But we continue our intelligence gathering for any contingency ... Our concerns are on the rallies, traffic and crime)," he said. Appeal to protesters Miranda appealed to protesters to police their ranks and keep their activities orderly. He also asked them to clean up after they finish with their rallies. “Sana sundin nila ang tinakda ng pulis at local government. Maging malinis tayo, huwag tayo magkalat (We ask them to follow the agreements reached during our meeting. They should also clean up after their rallies)," he said. Number coding The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) may have suspended the number coding scheme for the SONA, but motorists whose vehicles' plate numbers end in 1 and 2 should watch out while passing through Makati City. "Since Monday has not been declared a holiday, there will be number coding in Makati on Monday," the Makati City government said in its web portal. City public safety director Hermenegildo San Miguel said they cannot afford to lift the number coding for the day, as some 800,000 vehicles pass through Makati's roads each workday. “As the financial and commercial center, there are more than 800,000 vehicles in Makati’s roads during workdays. Number coding reduces the number of vehicles by 20 percent," San Miguel said. Under the number coding scheme, vehicles with plate numbers ending in 1 and 2 are not allowed on the city streets on Mondays, 3 and 4 on Tuesdays, 5 and 6 on Wednesdays, 7 and 8 on Thursdays, and 9 and 0 on Fridays. Also, Makati does not observe the 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. “window" of the MMDA, which allows banned vehicles on the road for five hours. — LBG, GMANews.TV