The ASEAN Committee on Security, Peace and Order, Emergency Preparedness and Response (CSPOEPR) is urging air travelers going out of Metro Manila during the holidays to show up early for their flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA).
Speaking during the recently concluded press briefing in Pasay City, Eric Apolinario, spokesperson of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP), advised travelers that instead of the usual one to two hours leeway, they are encouraged to be at NAIA three to four hours earlier than their scheduled flights.
“We highly encourage the general public to adjust their travel time considering that there are lock down areas in some parts of Metro Manila,” Apolinario said.
A public advisory was previously announced that NAIA Runway 12 will be set to No Landing Zone fromNovember 12 to 15 between 6AM to 5 PM. During this period, only departure flights will be allowed on said runway while Runway 31 is set to No Take-Off Zone.
ASEAN lane on EDSA
Meanwhile, Emmanuel Miro of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Chairman of the Technical Working Group (TWG) on Traffic Management announced that there will be a dedicated ASEAN lane along EDSA starting November 12 onwards.
Miro strongly advised the general public not to pass through EDSA and take alternate routes during the ASEAN Summit.
“Inuulit po natin ang mga naunang paalala sa ating mga kababayan, huwag na po kayong dumaan ng EDSA para makaiwas sa traffic,” he said.
He also reiterated the previous traffic advisories that trucks and closed vans are prohibited from traversing along EDSA from Balintawak and Magallanes starting November 12 to 15.
Window hours on the truck ban from November 13 to 15 will be implemented from 12 midnight to 4 AM.
100% ready for ASEAN security preps
Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief Superintendent Noel A. Barraceros, ASEAN Security Task Force (ASTF) Operations Officer said that the national government is 100% ready for the security preparations in hosting the event.
“We have deployed 60,000 security forces all over Metro Manila and Clark, we have conducted six dry runs on day and night scenarios including speed, training, and deployment and with this I am almost certain that we are 100% ready in our security preparations,” Barraceros said.
He explained that the 60,000 strong personnel are divided into four joint task groups (JTGs) namely JTG on Peace and Order, JTG on Security, JTG on Leaders’ Security, and JTG on Emergency Preparedness and Response.
Said security forces are mobilized in different posts such as airports, hotels, venue, routes, and tours in Metro Manila and Clark.
The CAAP, PNP, and the MMDA are three of the member agencies of the ASEAN CSPOEPR, which is headed by the DILG and tasked to be on top of security and safety preparation for the ASEAN Summit. —DILG-PACS
