Provincial buses allowed on EDSA for Undas

MANILA, Philippines — Provincial buses will be able to use parts of EDSA to carry passengers going to the provinces for the holidays next week, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said yesterday.

Buses coming from Northern Luzon may go through along EDSA until they reach their terminals in Cubao, Quezon City. Those from Southern Luzon may stop at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, according to acting MMDA Chairman Romando Artes.

Buses can traverse portions of EDSA from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. until Nov. 6, he added.

The MMDA came up with the measure in anticipation of the exodus of passengers traveling to the provinces to vote in the barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan elections, as well as the annual tradition of Undas or visits to the dead every Nov. 1 and 2.

Meanwhile, the Manila government advised motorists that some roads near the Manila North Cemetery will be sealed off during Undas.

Aurora Boulevard, Dimasalang Road, P. Guevarra street, Blumentritt Road, Retiro street and Maceda street will be closed to vehicular traffic starting 10 p.m. on Oct. 31, according to the Manila public information office.

Also, motorists visiting the Manila North Cemetery may park their vehicles along P. Guevarra, Felix Huertas, Oroquieta and Simoun streets, it added.

The city government also published a list of alternate routes that drivers can use.

Those visiting La Loma Cemetery and Chinese Cemetery should take the stretch of Rizal Avenue and J. Abad Santos Avenue as their “point of entrance or exit.”

Vehicles coming from Rizal Avenue “intending to utilize Blumentritt Road shall continue straight Rizal Avenue to point of destination,” the MMDA said.

Trailer trucks and heavy vehicles from Lacson Avenue that usually traverse Dimasalang Road “shall go straight to Yuseco street to point of destination.”

Cars from Dimasalang Road “intending to utilize Blumentritt Road shall turn right to Makiling street, straight to Blumentritt Extension to point of destination,” the city government said.

In Marikina, the city government will implement a one-way traffic scheme along A. Bonifacio Avenue to ease traffic for those visiting Loyola Memorial Park on Nov. 1 and 2.

The one-way scheme will start at noon on Oct. 31 and end at 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 2.

Vehicles going to the cemetery through Gate 2 must stay on the left lane while motorists headed to the city proper must use the right lane.

In Parañaque, two lanes will be given to vehicles entering and exiting Manila Memorial Park. A separate lane will be allotted to vehicles passing through the area.

The entire stretch of A. Bonifacio will be closed to give way to those visiting the Parañaque Public Cemetery.

Mayor Eric Olivarez said Manila and Loyola Memorial Parks as well as the Himlayang Palanyag will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 29 and 30 and for 24 hours from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1.

The Parañaque Catholic Cemetery will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2.