Metro Manila traffic rerouted for Black Nazarene parade

MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has identified alternative routes within the national capital region for Thursday, January 9, when millions of people are expected to join or observe the annual Black Nazarene procession.

In an announcement on Tuesday, the MMDA suggested that vehicles take the following roads to avoid the heavy traffic. The procession will start from the Quirino Grandstand at 7:30 am and will proceed to the Quiapo Church.

1. All vehicles coming from northern part of Manila intending to utilize the stretch of Bonifacio Drive (for Port Area offices) or right to A. Soriano to Magallanes Drive, right to P. Burgos, go straight to Lagusnilad to Taft Ave.
2. All vehicles coming from Taft Avenue northbound shall turn right at A. Villegas (Arroceros), right at Quezon Bridge to point of destination.
3. All vehicles coming from southern part of Manila intending to utilize the northbound of Roxas Blvd. from T. M. Kalaw to P. Burgos shall turn right to T.M. Kalaw to point of destination.
4. All vehicles coming from Quezon City using the stretch of Espana shall turn right P. Campa, left Andalucia, right Fuguso, left T. Mapua to point of destination.
5. All PUJ’s/light vehicles coming from Espana intending to proceed to South Pier Zone take the usual route using Quezon Bridge.
6. All vehicles coming from Divisoria intending to utilize the stretch of C. Recto Avenue shall turn left to T. Alonzo, right at Fuguso, right at Andalucia to point of destination.
7. All vehicles coming from Legarda shall turn right Recto or left Mendiola to point of destination.
8. All heavy vehicles/cargo trucks coming from the south shall take Pres. Osmena, right Pres. Quirino to Nagtahan via A.H. Lacson to Capulong (vice-versa).

MMDA reminded motorists intending to go north or south of Manila to use the stretch of Lacson to Nagtahan (vice versa) or the stretch of Road 10 to Roxas Boulevard (vice versa) to point of destination.

All buses from Laguna and Cavite that usually ply through Taft Avenue will also not be allowed to enter from 7 am to 12 nn, and will only be allowed up to President Quirino as their turning point.

Parade route

Meanwhile, MMDA also released the final parade route that will take the Black Nazarene image from the Quirino Grandstand to the Quiapo Church:

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has ordered the suspension of classes in all levels on Thursday “for public order and safety.”

ICYMI: MANILA | #walangpasok Classes in ALL LEVELS are suspended on Jan. 9, 2014, by order of the city gov't. pic.twitter.com/WDpamSPZZF

— DepEd (@DepEd_PH) January 7, 2014

Last year, the procession of the image around the city took 18 hours and drew 9 million devotees. – Rappler.com

(An earlier version of the map included Dasmariñas Street in the route. The procession will actually pass through Escolta, not Dasmariñas. We have since uploaded a revised map to reflect this. – Editors)