INC to hold Yolanda walkathon

MANILA, Philippines - Several roads in Manila will be closed to traffic tomorrow as members of the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) hold a global walkathon dubbed “Worldwide Walk” for victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda.

Organizers said the walk for a cause will be staged at 85 sites in the country and 55 abroad – 34 in the United States, six in Europe, 10 in Australia and New Zealand and five in Asia.

In Metro Manila, the walkathon will start at 7 a.m. from the Cultural Center of the Philippines to Rizal Park, where a prayer rally will also be held.

“The amount that will be raised through this activity will be allocated by the church through the FYM (Felix Y. Manalo) Foundation as additional assistance to our countrymen especially our brethren, who were devastated by Super Typhoon Yolanda,” Edwil Zabala, INC minister of the gospel said, quoting a circular read in INC congregations worldwide on Jan. 11 and 12.

The INC has at least 5,500 local congregations in about 100 countries and territories.

The walkathon is among the activities being undertaken by the INC in preparation for its centennial this year.

Traffic rerouting

Manila’s public information office chief Diego Cagahastian said the roads to be closed are the southbound lane of Andalucia from Fugoso to Quezon Boulevard, southbound lane of España from Lacson to Lerma, westbound lane of Lerma from España to Quezon Boulevard, the stretch of Jones and MacArthur bridges, northbound lane of Road 10 from Moriones to Delpan Bridge, north and southbound lane of Bonifacio Drive from Delpan Bridge to Katigbak Drive, north and southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard from Katigbak Drive to P. Ocampo (Vito Cruz), east and westbound lane of P. Burgos from Ma. Orosa to Roxas Boulevard, east and westbound lane of T.M. Kalaw from M. H. Del Pilar to Roxas Boulevard, westbound lane of Finance Road from Taft Avenue to P. Burgos, westbound lane of President Quirino from Adriatico to Mabini and M. H. Del Pilar to Roxas Boulevard and the northbound lane of Ma. Orosa from T. M. Kalaw to P. Burgos.

Cagahastian said traffic re-routing would also be implemented in various parts of Manila.

He advised motorists coming from España and bound for Quiapo to turn right to A.H. Lacson, left to Dapitan, left to Andalucia, right to Fugoso, left to Rizal or left to A.H. Lacson then go straight to Nagtahan to their point of destination.

Motorists going to Quiapo area via Andalucia are advised to turn right to Fugoso, left to Rizal Avenue onwards to their point of destination.

Motorists who are coming from Binondo area and are intending to use the southbound lane of Jones bridge are advised to turn left under the Jones bridge going to Escolta passing through Plaza Sta. Cruz, right, then left to Palanca St., right to Ayala Bridge, left or right to Taft avenue to their point of destination.

Vehicles coming from Plaza Sta. Cruz intending to utilize the southbound lane of McArthur Bridge should turn left to Palanca St., right to Ayala Bridge to point of destination.

Vehicles coming from northern part of Manila intending to use the stretch of Delpan Bridge, Roxas Boulevard southbound lane should turn left to Capulong or either Herbosa or Moriones to point of destination.

Vehicles coming from southern part of Manila intending to utilize the stretch of Roxas Boulevard northbound lane should turn right to Buendia, left to Taft Avenue to point of destination.

Vehicles coming from Ayala Boulevard utilizing P. Burgos going to Roxas Boulevard southbound should turn left to Taft Avenue, right to T.M. Kalaw, left to M.H. del Pilar, left to Quirino, right to Mabini to FB Harrison or use Taft Avenue to point of destination.

Vehicles coming from Taft Avenue or Quirino intending to use the stretch of Roxas Boulevard southbound should turn left to Adriatico, right to P. Ocampo, left to FB Harrison to point of destination.

One lane going in and out would be used along the stretch of Independence Road and South Drive coming from Roxas Boulevard service road for those who would go in and out of Manila Hotel and H2O Hotel. – Reinir Padua, Jose Rodel Clapano