Government releases road advisories in connection with the country’s APEC hosting

In line with security preparations for the upcoming APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has released advisories regarding road closures and rerouting schemes to be implemented in the metropolis, the Palace announced on Saturday, November 7.

From November 16 to 20, special APEC-only lanes will be set up along EDSA, and the entirety of Roxas Boulevard will be closed to non-APEC vehicles.

The full list of advisories may be found on the official APEC Philippines website, apec2015.ph, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said on Saturday.

“The page contains infographics on road closures around the Mall of Asia Arena and CCP Complex areas, as well as information on alternate routes, truck bans, and no-fly zones,” she told dzRB Radyo Ng Bayan.

“The public is further advised that the number coding scheme will still be implemented during Leaders’ Week. Motorists and travelers are advised to plan accordingly.”

Additional information to be found on the APEC 2015 website include announcements regarding work and class suspensions, as well as guidelines on pay rules for November 18 and 19, which have earlier been declared as special non-working days in National Capital Region, she said.

The website also contains a feature containing suggestions on how Metro Manila residents can make the most of the long weekend, Valte added.

The Palace official also announced that starting November 9, the APEC Channel will be going live on SkyCable Channel 133.

This is part of the government’s effort to bring the hosting closer to the people, she said.

She said that apart from airing coverage of speeches, meetings, and press briefings, the APEC Channel will also feature live broadcasts of the arrivals of the twenty Economic Leaders and the Leaders’ Welcome Reception on November 18.

The Channel is complemented by a free app called APEC TV, which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store or App Store, according to Valte.

“We encourage the public to download the app, so they can get real-time updates on schedules, photos, and releases,” she said.

The Philippines will host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting at the Philippine International Convention Center from Nov. 17 to 20. PND (as)