Maritime traffic in some areas in Metro Manila will be prohibited during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in the country this month, according to the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG).
In a recent Notice to Mariners, PCG advised all maritime stakeholders that due to the holding of the APEC Summit at the Philippine International Convention Centre on November 18 to November 19, the waters measuring 1.5 nautical miles from the shoreline near the entrance to the Pasig River up to the Solaire Hotel in Parañaque City will be closed off to traffic from November 3 to November 21.
PCG added that all maritime vessels regardless of tonnage, including ships, yachts, motor bancas, and fishing boats, that plan to transit close to the prohibited waters “are advised not to enter/navigate within and abide with the safety and security measures at all times.”
Aside from closing maritime traffic, a no-fly zone and temporary runway closures will be instituted at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) on November 17, November 19, and November 20. A total of 357 flights from November 15 to November 20 by flag carrier Philippine Airlines, and by sister airlines Cebu Pacific Air and Cebgo have already been announced as cancelled.
Land side, rerouting schemes are to be put in place within Metro Manila. APEC lanes will be established along EDSA and Roxas Boulevard, while a “stop and go” scheme will be implemented from November 15 to November 20 along parts of EDSA, Roxas Boulevard, Skyway, South Luzon Expressway, and roads around NAIA. Whenever economic leaders pass by, all traffic along these roads will be stopped, to resume only after the entourage has passed.
A truck ban on Roxas Boulevard and on the South Truck Route from November 16 to November 20 is likewise to be enforced.
The Bureau of Customs, meanwhile, will still assign a skeletal workforce at the Port of Manila, Manila International Container Port, and NAIA from November 17 to November 20 to ensure continued operations.
For the public sector, work has been suspended in the National Capital Region from November 17 to November 20; government frontline and basic services will continue operating.
For the private sector, work in the NCR is on hold on November 18 and November 19, while classes in all levels are suspended from November 17 to November 20.
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