This Week in Metro Manila (September 8 to 15, 2018)

The weather condition in Metro Manila this week will remain mostly rainy. From September 8 to 15, the skies are expected to be cloudy all over the city, with chances of thunderstorms in certain spots. To prepare for the light to heavy downpour, bring umbrellas or raincoats. The temperature is expected to fall between 30 to 31 °C [1], but bring a jacket or sweater in case the temperature gets colder because of the rain.

Those who frequently pass by Sta. Mesa and Estrella street can expect heavier traffic due to multiple bridge repairs starting September 15, according to MMDA [2]. Those who want to cross the bridge will be diverted to Guadalupe Bridge, which in turn can lead to traffic congestion along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA).Find an alternative route or allot an extra hour for travel to cope with the traffic.

Last September 4, the newly implemented Araneta to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) point-to-point (P2P) route has started operations [3]. The operational hours from the Araneta Center starts at 7:00 AM, with the last trip at 9:00 PM. Buses are dispatched every two hours. Meanwhile, trips from NAIA start as early as 5:30 AM. The last trip is same with Araneta at 9:00 PM.

The estimated travel time is reported to be from 1.5 to 2 hours. The fare for the route is PhP100. Commuters can check the Facebook page of P2P buses for complete info of the pickup and drop-off time.

In case of severe thunderstorms, monitor the Facebook accounts of major airlines and the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to be updated on flight cancellations [4].

To commemorate the birthday of the Blessed Virgin Mary on September 8, the National Shrine of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in New Manila, Quezon City will be having a procession starting at 5:00 PM [5]. It will be followed by a mass after. Those who will be visiting the shrine and nearby areas can expect a slight increase in traffic due to the number of devotees who will attend the procession and mass.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will no longer tow away illegally parked cars along the 17 Mabuhay Lanes. Instead, those who have violated the parking rules from 6:00 AM to 9:00 PM will be issued at least three citation tickets. Violators would be fined PhP150 for disregarding traffic signs, PhP200 for violation of illegal parking rules, and PhP150 for road obstruction. According to MMDA, the move was made to slowly remove illegally parked cars that plague the Mabuhay Lanes [6].