(Eagle News) – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Transportation (DoTr) announced their preparations for the May 6, 2018 “Worldwide Walk to Fight Poverty” of the Iglesia Ni Cristo (Church Of Christ).
Two weeks before the event, MMDA announced the road closures in Pasay City and Manila starting midnight of May 5 until 10 p.m. of May 6, as they are expecting more than a million participants along Roxas Boulevard alone which is just one of 311 sites in 42 countries that will participate in the INC event.
According to MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia, the event will start from 6:00 AM onwards on May 6, along Roxas Boulevard in Manila.
Because of this, Roxas Boulevard – from Buendia to Padre Burgos — will be closed starting 12:01 a.m. of May 6, as well as other roads in Pasay City and Manila to be affected by the INC’s Worldwide Walk, Garcia said.
The official also advised the public to take alternative routes as the following roads in Manila will be closed:
– East and Westbound lane of P. Burgos, from Roxas Blvd. to Lagusnilad
– Both lanes of Finance Rd., from Taft Ave. to P. Burgos
– East and Westbound lane of TM Kalaw from Taft Ave. to Roxas Blvd.
– Westbound lane of Pres. Quirino, from Taft Ave. to Roxas Blvd.
– North and Southbound lane of Bonifacio Drive from Anda Circle to P. Burgos.
– North and Southbound lane of Roxas Blvd. from P. Burgos to P. Ocampo.
The Worldwide Walk to Fight Poverty will be led by the Iglesia Ni Cristo and its main partner, the Felix Y. Manalo (FYM) Foundation Inc.
Garcia said MMDA will have full force deployment in the areas of activity to help ease traffic.
The areas affected by the INC charity walk include Quirino Grandstand, Luneta Park, Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex, parts of Diosdado Macapagal Avenue, Buendia Avenue, Taft Avenue at Road 10.
-More than a million participants expected along Roxas Boulevard-
“Hinihingi namin ang kooperasyon ng publiko na iwasan ang Roxas Boulevard at ilang bahagi ng Kamaynilaan at Pasay kung wala namang importanteng gagawin sa lugar. (We need the cooperation of the public, stay away from Roxas Boulevard and some areas in Manila and Pasay if you do not have any business or anything important to do there)” Garcia said in a statement.
“We are estimating one million people to attend this event,” he said.
MMDA will deploy 200 personnel, including traffic enforcers, members of the road emergency group, and roadside clearing group to guide motorists, help maintain peace and order, and clean up the areas after the Worldwide Walk.
Garcia said that they have also coordinated with the local government units of Manila and Pasay City which will also help in ensuring the safety and security of the Worldwide Walk participants, and in the management of traffic in the affected areas on May 6.
Department of Transportation (DOTr) Undersecretary Tim Orbos also expressed the readiness of his department to assist those participating in the walkathon.
Orbos also encouraged participants to just use the Metro Rail Transit, the Light Rail Transit, and the Philippine National Railways in going to the Metro Manila venue of the “Worldwide Walk” in Roxas Boulevard, and not bring their own vehicles anymore.
“Kung maaari huwag nang magdala ng sasakyan at magpark na lang malayo sa venue. (We urge them not to bring their vehicles and just park their vehicles away from the venue),” Orbos said.
To ease the traffic congestion, the MMDA said that the Iglesia Ni Cristo has rented parking areas, including those in the World Trade Center for the Worldwide Walk event.
Garcia also said that the INC management had also coordinated with the Department of the Transportation (DOTR) and other agencies for the use of parking areas in MRT and LRT stations.
Proceeds of the INC’s second Worldwide Walk will be used to continue providing food and medical assistance for those in immediate need in impoverished communities.
Its 2014 charity walk benefitted victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda, known as Haiyan, the strongest tropical storm recorded in history. The global walk also helped finance the INC’s first resettlement and eco-farming community in Leyte, Philippines.
(with reports from Eagle News Service’s Mary Rose Faith Bonalos, Mar Gabriel, Meanne Corvera and INC Public Information Office)