MMDA pushes week-long class suspension for Asean summit

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has recommended a week-long suspension of classes in Metro Manila during the Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN) summit next month.

MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said yesterday that they have recommended to President Duterte to suspend classes on Nov. 13, 14 and 15 during summit.

The MMDA, through the Metro Manila Council, earlier declared the suspension of classes in the metropolis on Nov. 16 and 17 during the final days of the ASEAN summit.

Pialago said the week-long class suspension is meant to avoid inconveniencing students studying in schools along the routes that would be used by Asean delegates to go to summit venues around Metro Manila.

Under the MMDA’s “stop and go” traffic scheme, routes where Asean delegates will pass will be temporarily closed to traffic until the last car of the convoy had passed.

But Pialago clarified that the MMDA’s recommendation is only for the class suspension and not for the declaration of a holiday or work suspension. She said that it is still upon Duterte’s decision whether to suspend classes or not.

Dry run

Meanwhile, Emmanuel Miro, head of operations of Task Force MMDA-ASEAN, urged motorists to avoid several routes that would be affected by the dry run for the convoy of ASEAN delegates between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Miro said in an interview that the dry run will start from Clark International Airport in Pampanga to Metro Manila.

For this route, he said that the affected roads will be Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, North and South Luzon Expressways (NLEX and SLEX) and EDSA.

The convoy dry run will also be held from Pampanga to Manila Hotel in Manila via SLEX, Skyway, Buendia Extension, Diokno Boulevard and Roxas Boulevard.

For the convoy going to Bonifacio Global City in Taguig, the affected roads are McKinley Street and 5th street to 30th street.

For the convoy going to The Peninsula Manila in Makati City, the affected roads are Ayala and Makati Avenues.

From Pampanga to the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay City, the convoy will take Jalandoni, Arnaiz and V. Sotto streets.

HPG cops to guard delegates

Around 500 members of the police’s Highway Patrol Group will be deployed to secure the heads of state and other delegates who will attend the summit, HPG spokesperson Senior Inspector Jem Dellanes said yesterday.

Nine police officers will secure each head of state – five on motorcycles and four in two patrol cars.

Dellanes said they expect 28 heads of state to attend the summit.

He said they need additional personnel since the HPG only has 1,500 personnel nationwide. –