Parañaque roads closed for MMFF parade today

MANILA, Philippines — Motorists are advised to take other routes as some major roads in Parañaque City will be closed today to give way to the Parade of Stars of the annual Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) this year.

A stretch of Dr. A. Santos Avenue or Sucat Road from St. Rita Avenue will be closed to traffic starting noon today, according to an advisory from the Parañaque City government’s public information office.

The floats of the eight participating films in the MMFF will start at Shopwise Sucat and will pass through Sucat Road, then left to Medina Avenue or Kabihasnan Avenue, right to Quirino Avenue, left to MIA Road eastbound, right to Macapagal Avenue eastbound and left to Bradco Avenue.

The said office also issued alternative routes during the parade.

All vehicles bound for Baclaran should pass the westbound side of Sucat Road where counterflow starts at its eastbound lane, then turn left to Carlos P. Garcia Extension or C-5 Road at the corner of SM Sucat, make a U-turn passing through C-5 Bridge, left to Multinational Avenue, right to Domestic Road, left to Airport Road and left to Quirino Avenue.

Other Baclaran-bound cars may also choose to turn left to President Avenue, right to Aguirre Avenue, right to El Grande Avenue and left to Sucat Road.

Motorists coming from San Antonio Valley 1 area can proceed to Baclaran by passing along France street and turning left to Doña Soledad Avenue passing through Kaingin Road, right to Multinational Avenue, right to Ninoy Aquino Avenue, left to MIA Road, right to Domestic Road, left to Airport Road, then to Quirino Avenue.

Meanwhile, those driving from the areas of Las Piñas and Cavite should drive along Diego Cera Avenue or Quirino Avenue and turn right to Villareal Extension, right to Carlos P. Garcia Extension or C-5 Road, then make a U-turn passing C-5 Bridge, left to Multinational Avenue, right to Ninoy Aquino Avenue, left to MIA Road, right to Domestic Road, left to Airport Road, then to Quirino Avenue.

Those who wish to go to SM Bicutan from San Antonio Valley 1 should take France street and turn right to Doña Soledad Avenue.

Also, motorists coming from Mall of Asia should drive along J.W. Diokno Boulevard and turn left to New Seaside Drive, right to Macapagal Avenue going to Marina, left to Pacific Drive, right to Factor Road then right to Balagtas street until they reach Sucat Road.

The city government noted that “all private vehicles will wait to exit until the parade passes along Quirino Avenue.”

Meanwhile, those coming from Baclaran, particularly along Quirino Avenue, can turn left to MIA Road westbound, right to Ninoy Aquino Avenue, left to Multinational Road, right to C-5 Road, make a U-turn to SM Sucat, then turn right to Sucat Road.

Other motorists bound for Sucat may also turn right to El Grande Avenue, left to Aguirre Avenue, left to President’s Avenue and right to Sucat Road.

Floats of the following films will join the Parade of Stars this year: “Aurora,” “Girl in the Orange Dress,” “Fantastica: The Princesses, The Prince and The Perya,” “Jack Em Popoy: The Puliscredibles,” “Mary, Marry Me,” “One Great Love,” “Otlum” and “Rainbow Sunset.”

Worst time to drive

Meanwhile, global positioning system navigation software Waze has warned drivers of the worst time to drive this Christmas and New Year as it came up with a traffic data seen helping drivers outsmart congested roads this holiday season.

Waze said the worst time to drive in Metro Manila tomorrow, Christmas Eve, is from 2 a.m. to 11 a.m., while it warned drivers to avoid the 4 a.m. to 5 a.m. and 10 a.m.-11 a.m. periods on Christmas Day.

The best time to drive tomorrow, it said, is after 5 p.m., and after 4 p.m. on Dec. 25.

As for Dec. 31, Waze data showed that the worst time for traffic is from 5 a.m. to 7 a.m., while on New Year’s Day, motorists should avoid the 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. periods. – With Richmond Mercurio