1,200 traffic personnel for SONA

MANILA, Philippines – At least 1,200 traffic personnel will be deployed in the vicinity of the Batasan Pambansa complex on Monday, July 22, for the State of the Nation Address (SONA).

The number coding scheme will also remain in effect on Monday, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said in a media release Saturday, July 20.

Aside from the MMDA personnel, the Quezon City Police Department will also deploy traffic personnel in the area to help ensure proper flow of vehicular traffic along Commonwealth Avenue and IBP/Batasan Road.

The stretch of Commonwealth Avenue in the area of St Peter Parish Church and Convergys will only have the two leftmost lanes opened Monday.

Authorities will set up container vans and concrete barriers, which will act as barricades for protesters.

The entire length of Commonwealth Avenue will also be cleared of illegally parked vehicles and other obstructions starting Monday midnight.

“We have enough traffic constables to manage the traffic flow on Monday. We are assuring the motorists that we will be fully implementing our traffic management plan to provide them unimpeded travel as much as possible,” MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino was quoted as saying.

Emergency vehicles and personnel will also be put on standby.

The MMDA expects traffic to be back to normaly 6 pm Monday. – Rappler.com