Rerouting, transport bans to prevail during ASEAN Summit T
he Philippine government has set restrictions for air, water, and land transport operations before, during, and after the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit to ensure the security of the delegates and the smooth flow of traffic during the annual event.
All trucks and closed vans will be prohibited from passing through Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and North Luzon Expressway from Clark, Pampanga to Balintawak, Quezon City from November 12 to November 15, 2017, according to an advisory from Catalino Cuy, chairperson of the ASEAN Committee on Security, Peace and Order, and Emergency Preparedness and Response (CSPOEPR) and Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge.
The CSPOER, composed of 21 member agencies, leads security preparations for the summit to be hled from Nov. 10 to November 14 in Metro Manila and Clark. Over 20 world leaders and top officials will be attending the event, which also coincides with the 50th anniversary celebration of the ASEAN region.
Cuy said all heavy-duty vehicles are also barred from traversing EDSA from Balintawak to Magallanes during the same period. he added that from November 11 to November 15, motorists should expect intermittent traffic stops on the following designated ASEAN lanes in the Makati area: Arnaiz Avenue, Makati Ave, and Parkway Drive along EDSA in the Makati area.
During the same period, rerouting will also be implemented along Sen. Jose W. Diokno Boulevard, Jalandoni Street, V. Sotto Street, Bukaneg Street, and A. Dela Rama in Pasay City, while occasional traffic disruptions will be experienced along EDSA, Pasay Road, and Makati Ave in Makati City. Disruptions are also expected along EDSA in Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, and Quezon City. Sea operations along Manila Bay, meanwhile, will be barred from all types of vessels from November 5 until November 16.
In a separate advisory, Cuy said the “No Sail Zone” will be set near the waters off H2O Hotel, Manila to OKADA Hotel, New Seaside Drive in Parañaque City.
During the No Sail Zone period, no vessel of any kind will be allowed to pass through these areas for the entire 12 days.
“Maximum maritime security is part of our safety preparations to ensure that the short stay of our ASEAN delegates in our country will be as peaceful, safe, and secure as possible,’ Cuy said.
He said the shoreline from H2O Hotel to the mouth of Pasig River will be designated as Controlled Zone during this period. A Controlled Zone, he explains, means that all vessels going to and from the shoreline will be escorted by patrol boats of the Philippine Coasts Guards (PCG).
The implementation of the No Sail Zone and the Controlled Zone excludes waters within one nautical mile from the aforementioned areas.
Cuy said all ASEAN vessels will be required to submit their manifest one day before docking or sailing.
On their side, air operations in Manila and nearby provinces will be restricted for all types of aircraft beginning November 9 to November 15.
The No Fly Zone covers all general aviation flights within a 10,000-foot altitude and 40-nautical mile radius at Clarkfield Special Economic Zone and Freeport Zone of Pampanga from November 9 to November 14 (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and November 15 (4 a.m. to 5 p.m.); Rizal park in Manila from November 12 to November (6 a.m. to 5 p.m.); and all general aircraft with very high-frequency omni-directional range (VOR) within a 10,000foot altitude and radius of 40 nautical miles in Manila from November 12 (6 a.m. to 11 p.m.), November 13 to November 14 (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.), November 15 (4 a.m. to 5 p.m.).