INC mission causes traffic jam

MANILA, Philippines – Motorists were trapped for hours in a traffic gridlock yesterday as a stretch of Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City was closed to traffic for a medical mission of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC).

The traffic jam forced many commuters to get out and walk under the heat of the sun.

The northbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue, from the Sandiganbayan building to Batasan Road, was closed starting at midnight yesterday to make way for the INC’s whole-day mission.

A counterflow lane was set up at the southbound lane to ease traffic, which started building up as early as 5 a.m., according to Superintendent Ritchie Claraval, head of the Quezon City Police District Traffic Enforcement Unit.

A traffic bottleneck was reported near the INC chapel where the “Lingap sa Mamamayan” and evangelization program were held.

INC spokesman Edwil Zabala apologized for the traffic jam, saying they “truly understand how a motorist, or even someone who is traveling, gets stuck in traffic. How they would feel especially with the heat.”

GMA News reported that Zabala said it was only a matter of perception for those calling the church inconsiderate for occupying the entire northbound lane of Commonwealth Avenue from Sandiganbayan to Litex Market.

He said he hopes the public will realize that the poor benefited from the mission. Rather than complain, commuters and car owners should think they are contributing to a good cause.

Zabala said there were no available areas around the district the INC could use as a venue for the medical mission.

A photo posted by Facebook user Leonard Guiam shows commuters walking along Commonwealth Avenue due to the traffic jam.