The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will implement road closures in Manila City for the annual Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) parade set on December 23.
Celine Pialago, MMFF spokesperson, said the Parade of Stars will start at the Manila City Hall on Nicanor Lopez Street, turn right on Taft Avenue, straight to Jones Bridge, then go its way to Quintin Paredes in Chinatown, Reina Regente Street, right on Claro Recto Avenue, left on Rizal Avenue in Avenida, right on Fugoso Street, then right on Quezon Boulevard until the parade reaches Plaza Miranda.
This early, Pialago said the agency is warning the public to plan their trips ahead because of the possible heavy traffic in Manila when the crowd-drawing Parade of Stars happens.
The parade, which will feature floats that will carry celebrities of this year’s eight MMFF entries, will occupy a single lane of the affected roads.
“The parade will start in the afternoon but roads would be closed hours before the parade starts,” said Pialago at the agency’s radio program over DZBB radio.
Bong Nebrija, MMDA supervising operations officer, appealed to motorists to refrain from parking their vehicles on the parade routes.
“We will deploy 11 tow trucks to clear the routes of illegally parked vehicles as early as Friday morning o give way to the parade,” said Nebrija.
The route of parade is different from the previous ones set on Roxas Boulevard and Luneta.
“We are bringing the MMFF closer to the people that will patronize the festival,” said Nebrija.
This year’s MMFF “Magic 8″ are “Die Beautiful,” “Kabisera,” “Saving Sally,” “Seklusyon,” “Sunday Beauty Queen,” “Vince & Kath & James,” “Ang Babae sa Septic Tank 2: Forever Is not Enough,” and “Oro.” (Anna Liza Villar-Alavaren)