DILG announces road closures for Asean summit

THE Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Sunday advised motorists to refrain from passing through designated lockdown areas in Metro Manila for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) Summit 2017 in November.

In a statement, DILG Officer-inCharge and undersecretary Catalino Cuy requested for the cooperation of the public with respect to the partial lockdown of the CCP Complex in Pasay City on November 8 (12:01 a.m. onwards); complete lockdown of SMXMAAX Block, Pasay City on November 11 (10:00 p.m. onwards); complete lockdown of CCP Complex, Pasay City on November 12 (12:01 a.m. onwards); total lockdown of Roxas Boulevard starting from Padre Burgos Ave. to Buendia Ave., Manila on November 13 (12:01 a.m. onwards); partial lifting of lockdown at SMX-MAAX Block, Pasay City on November 13 (12:01 a.m. onwards); lifting of lockdown for Roxas Blvd. from Padre Burgos Ave. to Buendia Ave., Manila on November 13 (12 noon onwards); continuous lockdown of CCP Complex, Pasay City on November 14; and partial lifting of lockdown for CCP Complex, Pasay City on November 15 (12 noon onwards)

Cuy explained that during the partial lockdown period, pedestrians and vehicles without Asean IDs and decals will be allowed to enter the said routes provided that they pass through designated vehicle and pedestrian security areas.

But on the days of full lockdown, only pedestrians and ve- hicles with Asean IDs and decals will be allowed to pass through the routes while the general public will be denied access.

“With less than two weeks before the event, I urge the public to steer clear of said lockdown areas so that they will not be trapped just in case there is a passing... convoy,” Cuy said in a statement.

He also advised the public to refrain from passing through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and EDSA, saying there will be a “stop and go” scheme implementation in every Asean convoy that will pass through the two major highways.

Cuy, who is also the concurrent chairperson of the Asean Committee on Security, Peace and Order, Emergency Preparedness and Response, requested local chief executives in Metro Manila and Central Luzon to provide support to the Asean delegates.

He also asked local officials to remove “unwanted elements” on the as well as display information, educa- tion and communication materials “that express support for Asean.”

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), meanwhile, said it will strictly implement a “no aircraft vehicle (UAVs) in areas where the 31st ASEAN Summit will be held.

“CAAP issued notice to airmen (NOTAM B4588/17) no drone operations from 09-17 November 2017, 40 nautical miles radius centered on Luneta Park and NOTAM (B4593/17), 40 nautical miles radius centered on Clark DVOR,” CAAP said in an advisory over the weekend.

populated areas, restricted areas such military camps and Malacañang Palace is prohibited under Memorandum Circular No. 21 series of 2014.

Operators found violating the rules will be fined between P300,000 and P500,000 depending on the gravity of violations.