MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) advises motorists to avoid traversing parts of Taguig City on Sunday, December 22 due to anticipated heavy traffic in line with the conduct of Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) Parade of Stars.

The MMFF parade which will feature floats carrying celebrities of official movie entries will be held from 12 noon to 7 p.m.

This will go through the following routes: from Lakeshore C6, right turn to M.L Quezon Avenue, left turn to MRT Avenue then right turn to Cuasay, right turn to CP Garcia (C5) Service Road, then left turn to Upper Mckinely Road, right turn to Lawton Avenue-5^th Street, right turn again to McKinley Parkway, left turn to 32^nd street, left turn to 7^th Avenue, right to 26^th Avenue, left turn to 5^th Avenue, right turn to LeGrand Avenue and Chateau Road.

The MMDA also said that road closures will be implemented in the following areas:

• Along ML Quezon Avenue (Dr. A. Santos to MRT)
• Along MRT (from ML Quezon to Cuasay)
• Along Cuasay (from MRT to C5)
• C5 Service Road cor. Cayetano Boulevard

Counterflow vehicles will be allowed in the following areas:

• Along Upper McKinely Road from C5 to Lawton Avenue
• Lawton-5^th Street from Upper McKinley to McKinley Parkway
• Along 32^nd Avenue from McKinley Parkway to 7^th Avenue

A stop-and-go scheme will be implemented in the following roads:

• C-5 road – Upper Mckinley
• C-5 Service Road – Sampaguita bridge
• Mckinley Parkway – 26th Avenue

The MMDA said affected roads will be opened by 7 p.m.

MANILA, Philippines— The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will still continue arresting people who vape in public places.

NCRPO acting director PBGen. Debold Sinas said that around 98 vapes had been confiscated and 98 had also been arrested.

He added that 812 vape stores have voluntarily closed down and 297 were urged by the NCRPO to stop selling.

Sinas also welcomed the report that the ban on the importation of vapes is now in effect, although he admitted that they have not received any directive on the matter.

“Wala pa kaming natanggap na directive so yung campaign namin ay tuloy tuloy lang po yun. Napansin mo medyo humina na nga ang nahuhuli eh. At tsaka kumukonti na rin kasi parang nasanay na rin. So sana tuloy tuloy na ito,” Sinas said.— (from the report of Lea Ylagan) /mbmf

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is offering free rides in the Pasig River Ferry Service until January 31.

This is in time for the relaunching of the Pasig River Ferry Service on Monday (December 9) which also aimed to lessen the heavy traffic in Metro Manila.

“With the anticipated heavy traffic as the holiday season approaches, there is no better time than now to see how Pasig River can help ease our traffic congestion problem,” MMDA Chairman Danny Lim said.

The Pasig River Ferry Service also has two additional boats that will begin operating on Monday. The additional boats can accommodate 57 passengers.

The schedule of the ferry service will be from Monday to Friday (6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.)

OPERATIONAL FERRY STATIONS
-Pinagbuhatan, Pasig City
-San Joaquin, Pasig City
-Maybunga, Pasig City
-Guadalupe, Makati City
-Valenzuela, Makati City
-Hulo, Mandaluyong City
-Lambingan, Manila
-Sta Ana, Manila
-PUP, Manila
-Lawton, Manila
-Escolta, Manila

Authorities are currently discussing the fares for the Pasig River Ferry Service.

Manila Mayor Isko Moreno Domagoso said the ferry service is one of the most convenient way to travel.

“Kung iyong mga kababayan namin na pupunta outside of Manila going to Pasig, one of the most efficient alternative way is sumakay ng ferry, (If our fellowmen who will travel outside Manila going to Pasig, one of the most efficient alternative way is to ride a ferry),” he said.—AAC (with reports from Asher Cadapan Jr.)