Manila: The Manila Public Information Office (MPIO) on Monday advised the public regarding road closures that will be in effect starting Tuesday, in connection with the celebration of the Chinese New Year celebrations. In a traffic advisory, the MPIO said the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge will be closed starting 12:01 a.m. Tuesday. Meanwhile, the following roads will be closed starting 9 p.m. Tuesday: Northbound and Southbound of Jones Bridge, Stretch of Quintin Paredes Street from Padres Burgos Avenue to Dasmari±as Street, Jones Bridge, Plaza Cervantes, and Binondo-Intramuros Bridge.
According to Philippines News Agency, the following are the alternative routes for all vehicles during the road closures: Vehicles coming from Reina Regente St. utilizing Juan Luna St. intending to utilize Southbound lane of Jones Bridge shall turn left to Plaza Lorenzo Ruiz, then turn right to Noberto Ty St., turn right to Yuchengco St., then turn left to Ongpin St. to point of destination. Vehicles coming from P. Burgos Ave./Taft Ave. intending to utilize Jones Bridge shall go straight to McArthur Bridge or Quezon Bridge to point of destination. Vehicles coming from Plaza Sta. Cruz utilizing Dasmari±as St. shall turn right to Q. Paredes St. to point of destination. Vehicles coming from Magallanes Drive going to Binondo-Intramuros Bridge shall go straight to A. Soriano Ave. to Anda Circle to point of destination. Vehicles coming from Muelle dela Binondo-Industria going Intramuros Bridge shall take Madrid St., then turn right to San Fernando St., going to Plaza San Ruiz then turn left to Q. Paredes St., turn
right to Noberto Ty St., turn right to Yuchengco then turn left to Ongpin to point of destination.
Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna and China Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian will lead the Chinese New Year activities on Tuesday. According to City Administrator Bernie Ang, vice chair of the Manila Chinatown Development Committee (MCDC), Lacuna and Huang will grace the lighting of the Filipino-Chinese Friendship Arch, which leads to the Manila Chinatown, at 10 p.m. He said there will also be simultaneous lighting up activities of four other similar arches located in other parts of the city.
Lacuna said the arch leading to Chinatown was built as an iconic testament to the long-running friendly relations between Manila residents and members of the Chinese-Filipino communities. After the arch lighting ceremony, the mayor and the Chinese envoy will walk toward Jones Bridge where a program will be held prior to the countdown to the start of the Chinese New Year at midnight Wednesday. The countdown will be followed by a colorful fireworks display and a drone show and is expected to be attended by city officials and representatives from the various Manila-based Chinese-Filipino organizations.
At around 2 p.m. Wednesday, a grand thanksgiving parade will be held around the Manila Chinatown area also to be led by Lacuna and Huang. Last Friday, Lacuna spearheaded the kick-off activities of the Chinese New Year celebration with the lighting of the Prosperity Tree or Money Tree at the Plaza San Lorenzo Ruiz.
