Manila to host non-stop New Year celebration at Baywalk

Mayor Lito Atienza enjoined Manilans to celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Rajah Sulayman Park across the Roxas Boulevard Baywalk where a spectacular fireworks display will be held to greet the New Year this weekend.

As in last year’s celebration, City Hall will co-host the non-stop New Year party with GMA-7, which will also cover the event for a live nationwide broadcast.

"We are inviting everyone to bring their families and loved ones and join us in the festivities as we greet 2006 with a big bang at the Rajah Sulayman Park and Roxas Boulevard Baywalk. This is absolutely free and open to the public," said Atienza, who will lead the countdown to the first moments of 2006.

At the same time, City Hall advised motorists that traffic along Roxas Boulevard will be rerouted for the occasion.

The northbound lane of Roxas Boulevard, from Pedro Gil to Quirino, will be closed to vehicular traffic as early as noon on Dec. 31.

By 3 p.m., both lanes (northbound and southbound), from Pedro Gil to Quirino, will be closed to vehicular traffic.

Parking spaces will be provided on both ends of the stretch to accommodate residents coming to join the holiday merrymaking hosted by the city government and GMA-7.

For its part, GMA-7 will parade a number of performing artists to entertain Manila residents and their families.

Meanwhile, the mayor reminded barangay leaders to strictly enforce the ban against burning of tires and other flammable materials to mark the occasion warning against its hazardous effects and the dangers they pose.

He also reminded Manila Police District director Chief Superintendent Pedro Bulaong to reiterate a standing order to all Manila policemen against firing their guns during the New Year revelry recalling tragic incidents in the past where innocent victims were killed by indiscriminate firing.

Atienza also alerted city hospitals to deploy adequate health personnel to attend to victims of firecrackers. He noted, however, the steady decrease in the number of incidents involving victims of firecrackers due to the intensified information campaign waged by City Hall every year.

He ordered the Manila Fire Department to stay on alert in cases of emergency brought about by careless use of firecrackers.