MMDA announces rerouting plan for July 25 SONA

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. will have his first State of the Nation Address at the Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City on Monday, July 25. And as such, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced a traffic rerouting scheme since a big chunk of Commonwealth Avenue will be closed off to motorists for security measures.

With that said, here are the following alternate routes announced by the MMDA:

NORTHBOUND (Quezon Memorial Circle to Fairview)

• Vehicles from Elliptical Road should take North Avenue, turn right at Mindanao Avenue then turn right to Sauyo Road or take Quirino Highway, then Commonwealth Avenue to reach the point of destination.

SOUTHBOUND (Fairview to Quezon Memorial Circle)

• Vehicles from Commonwealth Avenue should take Sauyo Road or Quirino highway, turn left at Mindanao Avenue, then turn left at North Avenue to reach the point of destination.

Motorists using light vehicles may also opt to take:

NORTHBOUND (Quezon Memorial Circle to Fairview via Marikina)

• Light vehicles from Elliptical Road (QMC) should turn right at Maharlika St., turn left at Mayaman St., turn right at Maginhawa St., turn left at C.P. Garcia Avenue, turn right at Katipunan Ave., turn left at A. Bonifacio Ave., go straight to Gen. Luna Ave., turn right at Kambal Rd., turn left at GSIS Road, turn left at Jones St., turn right at Gen. Luna Ave., go straight to A. Mabini St., turn left at Rodriguez Highway, turn left at Payatas Road to reach the point of destination.

• Light vehicles from C5 Road may turn left at Magiting St., turn right at Maginhawa St., and turn left at Mayaman St. to Kalayaan Avenue to reach the point of destination.

FOR TRUCKS

• All trucks coming from C-5 along Katipunan Avenue should take Luzon Flyover and then turn left at Congressional Avenue to reach the point of destination.

MMDA will also implement a zipper lane or counterflow on the southbound section of Commonwealth Avenue come July 25. This is to give way to the vehicles of government officials and guests going to President BBM's SONA.

"Personnel assigned are tasked to manage both vehicular and pedestrian traffic; emergency response; clearing operations; assist in crowd control; and support the operations of the Task Force SONA 2022, Philippine National Police, National Capital Region Police Office, Quezon City Police District, Presidential Security Group, and Quezon City government to ensure a peaceful and orderly SONA," said MMDA Officer-In-Charge Baltazar Melgar.

For motorists who frequently use the affected areas, expect heavy traffic on Monday. And for those who don't have important transactions on that day, it might be best to avoid the area altogether to not be inconvenienced.