The 30th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) will start on November 30 and will be held in different venues around the country. Several areas in
Metro Manila will be part of the 12-day festivities as some of the games will be held in venues such as the Mall of Asia Arena, SM Megamall, PhilSports Ultra, and Cuneta Astrodome. Traffic adjustments will be made during the entire SEA Games 2019 in order to ease the traffic.
Other
travel news that will affect the area are the opening of the Alabang Skyway, the operation of the Cavite to Manila ferry boats, and the launch of the LRT-1 app. November 30 is also Bonifacio Day, a national public holiday. Read on for the complete traffic and
travel updates.
Traffic News
Traffic adjustments to be made for the SEA Games
Besides the holiday rush, another factor that can affect the Metro Manila traffic this week is the SEA Games. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will implement stop-and-go schemes along EDSA and major thoroughfares in Metro Manila. The scheme will help convoys of athletes, sports officials, delegates, spectators, and guests to pass through the venues in the area. Traffic delays in areas near official sports and non-sports venues in Metro Manila are also expected [2].
Chokepoints include the following areas [3]:
North Bound
• Megamall
• Shaw Boulevard
• Buendia Ave
• Ayala Ave
• Santolan
• SM North
• Munos
• Balintawak
• Taft Avenue
• Roxas Boulevard
Southbound
• Santolan
• Cubao
• SM North
• Munos
• Balintawak
• Ortigas
• Shaw Boulevard
• Boni Serrano
• Buendia cor Macapagal
• Ayala Magallanes
• Roxas Boulevard
Quezon City
• Mindanao Avenue to North Avenue to NLEX
Pasig City
• Shaw Boulevard cor Pioneer
Taguig City
• Lawnton Ave cor Bayani Road
San Juan
• N. Domingo Street to FilOil
Manila
• Quirino Ave cor Adriatico Street
• Adriatico Street Rizal Ave Coliseum area
• Roxas Boulevard P. Burgos street, Pablo Ocampo street, Buendia Ave
Alabang Skyway ramp to open on December 1
The Alabang Skyway is set to open on December 1. The additional two-lane ramp that connects Aalabang and the Skyway now has a total of five lanes. This is expected to ease the traffic for northbound vehicles of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) [4].
Cavite-Manila ferry boat to start operations on first week of December
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has initiated ferry boat routes between Cavite and Metro Manila. The ferry boat system aims to ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila [5]. The routes are as follows:
• Phase 1 (Metro Star Ferry Terminal)
Cavite City Hall to Sangley port to SM MOA ferry terminal
Cavite City Hall to Sangley port to CCP Port
• Phase 2 (Metro Star Ferry Terminal)
Cavite City Hall to Sangley port to Escolta
Cavite City Hall to Sangley port to Lawton Ferry Terminal
Travel Update: LRT-1 launches app to make commuting easier
The Light Rail Manila Corporation has launched a mobile app called ikotMNL that would make commuting easier. The app features real-time train arrivals and departures, crowd monitoring, news and announcements, passenger advisories, fare and crowd information, and chat box. Directions to tourist spots near the trains are also provided in the app. The ikotMNL app is available for download on Google Playstore and Apple Store [7].
Check out
Yoorekka to see more Metro Manila travel recommendations.
Sources:
[1] http://bit.ly/2OVI8ps
[2] http://bit.ly/37LASVH
[3] http://bit.ly/35Deaxc
[4] http://bit.ly/35JGU7u
[5] http://bit.ly/2q1Ql39
[6] http://bit.ly/2XXEBeu
[7] http://bit.ly/2XUHay1