Ahead of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 27, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday called on drivers to utilize alternate routes in Quezon City to bypass expected gridlock.
The MMDA warned that streets near the House of Representatives, particularly IBP Road and Commonwealth Avenue, will likely face heavy traffic congestion due to heightened security protocols and traffic routing.
To navigate around the affected areas, the agency provided specific detours:
- Northbound (Quezon Memorial Circle to Fairview): Drivers exiting Elliptical Road should take North Avenue, make a right onto Mindanao Avenue, and proceed through either Quirino Highway or Sauyo Road.
- Southbound (Fairview to Quezon Memorial Circle): Commuters should bypass Commonwealth Avenue by taking Quirino Highway or Sauyo Road, turning left onto Mindanao Avenue, and taking a left onto North Avenue.
- Trucks from C-5 / Katipunan Avenue: Drivers should cross the Luzon flyover and make a right turn onto Congressional Avenue.
- Light Vehicles from C-5: Motorists can route through Magiting Street, turn right on Maginhawa Street, continue onto Mayaman Street, and head toward Kalayaan Avenue.
To maintain order during the event, the MMDA is enforcing a strict “no-day-off, no-absence” policy for its workforce, deploying 1,481 traffic personnel around the Batasan Complex.
The agency will also station extensive emergency and traffic assets, including 39 tow trucks, 30 motorbikes, five ambulances, six dump trucks, two boom trucks, one military truck, 22 mobile toilets, and various traffic dividers.
Additionally, a mobile command center equipped with 15 CCTV monitoring units and an Emergency Preparedness and Response Team will be stationed near the venue.