The Philippine government has set restrictions for air, water, and land transport operations before, during, and after the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit to ensure the security of the delegates and the smooth flow of traffic during the annual event.
All trucks and closed vans will be prohibited from passing through Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and North Luzon Expressway from Clark, Pampanga to Balintawak, Quezon City from November 12 to November 15, 2017, according to an advisory from Catalino Cuy, chairperson of the ASEAN Committee on Security, Peace and Order, and Emergency Preparedness and Response (CSPOEPR) and Interior and Local Government officer-in-charge.
But CSPOER on November 8 said there will be window hours for trucks during the truck ban at SCTEX and NLEX from Clark to Balintawak, and also along EDSA from Balintawak to Magallanes.
Trucks carrying perishable items will now be allowed from 12:01 AM to 4:00 AM from November 13 to 15.
The CSPOEPR, composed of 21 member agencies, leads security preparations for the summit to be held from November 10 to November 14 in Metro Manila and Clark. Over 20 world leaders and top officials will be attending the event, which also coincides with the 50th anniversary celebration of the ASEAN region.
Cuy said all heavy-duty vehicles are also barred from traversing EDSA from Balintawak to Magallanes during the same period. He added that from November 11 to November 15, motorists should expect intermittent traffic stops on the following designated ASEAN lanes in the Makati area: Arnaiz Avenue, Makati Avenue, and Parkway Drive along EDSA in the Makati area.
During the same period, rerouting will also be implemented along Sen. Jose W. Diokno Boulevard, Jalandoni Street, V. Sotto Street, Bukaneg Street, and A. Dela Rama in Pasay City, while occasional traffic disruptions will be experienced along EDSA, Pasay Road, and Makati Avenue in Makati City. Disruptions are also expected along EDSA in Pasay, Makati, Mandaluyong, and Quezon City.
At the same time, Cuy advises the public that the whole CCP Complex is closed off on the same dates as the area has been designated as an ASEAN Delegates Zone.
“We urge the public to veer away from the said areas and take alternate routes to avoid being inconvenienced by the heavy traffic while the ASEAN Summit is ongoing,” he said.
Maritime limitations
Sea operations along Manila Bay, meanwhile, will be barred from all types of vessels from November 5 until November 16.
In a separate advisory, Cuy said the “No Sail Zone” will be set near the waters off H2O Hotel, Manila to OKADA Hotel, New Seaside Drive in Paranaque City.
During the No Sail Zone period, no vessel of any kind will be allowed to pass through these areas for the entire 12 days.
“Maximum maritime security is part of our safety preparations to ensure that the short stay of our ASEAN delegates in our country will be as peaceful, safe, and secure as possible,” Cuy said.
He said the shoreline from H2O Hotel to the mouth of Pasig River will be designated as a Controlled Zone during this period. A Controlled Zone, he explains, means that all vessels going to and coming from the shoreline will be escorted by patrol boats of the Philippine Coast Guard (PSG).
The implementation of the No Sail Zone and the Controlled Zone excludes waters within one nautical mile from the aforementioned areas.
Cuy said all ASEAN vessels will be required to submit their manifest of passengers to PCG three days prior to docking, while all passenger vehicles will be required to submit their manifest one day before docking or sailing.
Aviation restrictions
On the air side, air operations in Manila and nearby provinces will be restricted for all types of aircraft beginning November 9 to November 15.
The No Fly Zone covers all general aviation flights within a 10,000-foot altitude and 40-nautical mile radius at Clarkfield Special Economic Zone and Freeport Zone of Pampanga from November 9 to November 14 (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.) and November 15 (4 a.m. to 5 p.m.); Rizal Park in Manila from November 12 to November 15 (6 a.m. to 5 p.m.); and all general aircraft with very high-frequency omni-directional range (VOR) within a 10,000-foot altitude and radius of 40 nautical miles in Manila from November 12 (6 a.m. to 11 p.m.), November 13 to November 14 (6 a.m. to 10 p.m.), and November 15 (4 a.m. to 5 p.m.).
A No Drone Operations is also set over Clark in Pampanga and Rizal Park in Manila from November 9 to November 17 for all types of drones within 40 nautical miles.
Meanwhile, Sangley Airport in Cavite, Plaridel Airport in Bulacan, and Subic International Airport in Olongapo will be closed off to civilian aircraft operations from November 9 to November 15 between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m.
On the other hand, a “No Landing” restriction will be implemented on Runway 13 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) from November 12 to November 15 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Only departure flights will be allowed on this runway during this period. A “No Take-Off” restriction will also be enforced on Runway 31 on the same dates.
The air operations restrictions will be closely monitored by the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.
“We are covering all the bases to ensure the safety and security of our ASEAN delegates including their mobility and transfer from one place to another,” Cuy said.
“We appeal to all our kababayans and the business community who will be affected by the restrictions, please bear with us in the next few days,” he adds.
Image courtesy of potowizard at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
