Heads, up motorists!
“In his Saturday, July 19, interview on dzMM, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino said about 10,000 buses and 2,400 vans carrying Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) members are expected to flock to the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan on July 27, Sunday, for the celebration of the religious group’s centennial,” reports ABS-CBNnews.com.
As many as 2 million (some report say up to 3 million) INC delegates are expected to fill the arena.
Thus, Tolentino is asking non-INC members to avoid passing through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) starting July 26 until 28 to give way to the heavy influx of delegates from different parts of the country. The NLEX runs from Balintawak, Quezon City to Sta. Ines, Pampanga.
Tolentino said, “If you’re heading north on that day, it’s best if you stick to Mindanao Avenue or Balintawak-NLEX. If you’re going Clark, Subic, Baguio, Pangasinan, it’s best if you postpone it.”
The report noted: “According to Tolentino, the mayors of Bulacan are also appealing to truckers to temporarily suspend their deliveries on the day of the INC’s celebration so as not to worsen the traffic situation.”
Tolentino added that about 2,500 police personnel from Region 3 and 2,000 more from Metro Manila will be deployed to ensure the security of INC delegates. A mobile hospital will also be set up in Bulacan to assist the delegates as well as commuters in any case of emergency.
