Expect heavy traffic during SEA Games

To give way to the country’s hosting of the 30th Southeast Asian Games, classes at the Unibersidad ng Maynila and Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila have been suspended from 2 to 7 December and at the Aurora Quezon Elementary School in San Andres, Malate from 2 to 6 December.

This was announced by Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso during yesterday’s wreath-laying ceremony in observance of the 156th birth anniversary of Andres Bonifacio at Tutuban Mall in Tondo, Manila.

As this developed, the Manila Police District has deployed 3,000 men to secure the different venues of the Games and hotels were athletes and delegates are billeted.

Meanwhile, heavy traffic is expected on all roads around the vicinity of the Rizal Memorial Stadium this weekend following yesterday’s opening of the Games.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Task Force for Special Operations chief Col. Bong Nebrija said they will focus on traffic routes that had been identified to be affected by the Games, which will run until 11 December.

On top of this, the Christmas rush is expected to add to the volume of vehicles traversing EDSA and other thoroughfares.

Nebrija told Daily Tribune that, unless it is really needed, he advises shoppers to plan their trips so that they may not get caught in traffic.

The MMDA has put up signs and traffic advisories on alternate routes, while the MRT and LRT lines are alternatives to get to major malls.