MMDA advises public to take alternate routes in line with EDSA People Power 30th anniversary

People marching during the EDSA People Power in 1986 (Photo courtesy of the Official Gazette of the Philippines)

MANILA—In line with the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution on Feb. 25, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority advised the public to avoid Epifanio De Los Santos Avenue (EDSA) and take alternate routes.

MMDA Chairman Emerson Carlos said as early as Feb. 10, the event’s organizers will be setting up an “experiential museum” along White Plains Avenue.

With this, MMDA officials met with traffic bureau heads of the 17 local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila and representatives of the Edsa People Power Commission (PPC) on Jan. 25 to discuss the schemes that would be implemented to ease congestion of the major thoroughfare during the celebration of the historic event.

According to PPC representatives, the closure of several lanes of White Plains Avenue will be necessary, especially the westbound direction for the installation of the nine halls of the museum which depicts the events leading to the ouster of the late president Ferdinand Marcos Sr.

Aside from the commuters and private motorists who will be affected by the traffic re-routing, Carlos said residents of subdivisions in the area, such as Corinthian Gardens and St. Ignatius, will be advised regarding the road’s closure.

“We don’t want to get into an argument with the residents regarding the yearly celebration of Edsa People Power Revolution,” Carlos said.

MMDA personnel will help in the clearing of the plant boxes, bike shelters and concrete barriers along White Plains Avenue to give way for the “experiential museum” and food stalls to be set up during the event.

The PPC is expecting a large number of students coming from south and north of Manila to participate in the museum’s walkthrough.

Based on the initial MMDA traffic management plan, EDSA will be closed from corner of Ortigas Avenue up to Santolan at midnight of Feb. 25 for the annual “salubungan” re-enactment.

MMDA officials also mull the implementation of “zipper” or counterflow lanes during the event.

For his part, MMDA Traffic Discipline Office head Crisanto Saruca Jr. said the MMDA has started making preparations for the celebration.

He noted they will deploy agency’s traffic and clearing operations personnelto man traffic along EDSA, guide motorists traversing the alternate routes and strictly supervise the execution of the traffic management plan to ensure the unimpeded flow of vehicles.

On Feb. 25, Filipinos will commemorate the 30th anniversary of the EDSA People Power Revolution in 1986 which ended the 21-year rule of then President Ferdinand Marcos and catapulted Corazon Aquino to the country’s top post.