NLEX, PNP all set for 2019 SEA Games
Credit to Author: Frederick Silverio| Date: Wed, 20 Nov 2019 16:31:54 +0000
the North Luzon Expressway Corp. (NLEX) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) Central Luzon Command are all geared up for the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, which will open on November 30 and run until the December 11.
“We assure all athletes, officials and spectators from abroad, as well as our fellow Filipinos, that they will enjoy smooth traffic flow and security at the NLEX and Subic-Clark Expressway (SCTEx) for the duration of the Games,” said NLEX President Luigi Bautista.
A surge of motorists is expected during the SEA Games Opening Ceremony, which will be held at the 55,000-seat Philippine Arena in Ciudad De Victoria (Philippine Arena) in Bocaue, Bulacan.
For the past four weeks, NLEX traffic management teams have actively participated in the preparations conducted by the PNP and the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (Phisgoc). During the simulation exercises held by the PNP on November 14, the NLEX officials had the opportunity to fine tune its traffic management protocols and adjust the traffic routes.
To assure all motorists of continued hassle-free trips despite the increased traffic volume for the duration of the SEA Games, NLEX will deploy close to 100 additional field supervisors, patrol crews, traffic marshals, and security officers in key NLEx-SCTEx areas such as Balintawak Cloverleaf NLEX entry, Ciudad de Victoria, Bocaue Interchange, and the major toll plazas in Balintawak, Bocaue, Clark South, Clark North, the new Bamban Interchange, San Miguel (Hacienda Luisita) and Tipo (Subic Freeport Expressway) to manage the traffic and assist delegates and motorists alike.
For the November 30, a stop-and-go scheme will be implemented at EDSA Balintawak Cloverleaf and NLEx Balintawak Toll Plaza to prioritize official SEA Games vehicle convoys.
To facilitate northbound entry, two toll lanes at Balintawak Toll Plaza will be assigned for the SEA Games convoys bound for Philippine Arena. For the return trip to Manila after the opening event, two toll lanes at NLEx Bocaue Toll Plaza will be assigned exclusively for the official convoys.
A tow truck will be fielded near the Philippine Arena to immediately tow stalled vehicles, and emergency incident response teams will be on stand by at Bocaue to implement traffic counter flow as necessary.
For close traffic and security visual monitoring, a CCTV mobile traffic control station will be set up at the Philippine Arena during the event.
No truck ban will be implemented at the NLEx during the Opening Ceremonies. On the other hand, NLEx traffic management teams are ready to assist in the traffic rerouting for those affected by the implementation of the truck ban in the municipalities of Bocaue, Marilao and Sta. Maria in Bulacan, from November 29 to 30.
Construction along the mainline road at the NLEx-SCTEX will be suspended unless safety repairs are necessary.
For the duration of the SEA Games from December 1 to 11, patrol crews and emergency incident response teams will remain on heightened alert for all the 30 sporting events that will be held in Clark, Tarlac and Subic. Official SEA Games vehicles and convoys will be directed to their assigned toll lanes in Clark South, Clark North, Bamban, San Miguel and Tipo toll plazas.
NLEx-SCTEx traffic control room personnel will continue to closely and thoroughly monitor the traffic situation along the expressways, especially in areas near New Clark City, Subic Bay Freeport Zone and Philippine Arena.
More than 6,000 police personnel were tasked to ensure peace and security during the 30th SEA Games as they were deployed on Tuesday at the different venues in the region.
The send-off ceremony was held at the Challenger’s Field,Air Force City, Clark field, Mabalacat City, Pampanga led by Lt. Gen. Archie Gamboa, officer in charge of the Philippine National Police.
In all, around 11,000 security response troops and force multipliers are ready to secure the 30th Southeast Asian Games to attain the goal of “zero incident” for all the days of the SEA Games in Central Luzon.
Central Luzon police acting director Brig. Gen. Rhodel Sermonia told his men and women on the ground to do their work with utmost diligence and due regard for public safety.
He also assured the public that they were very ready to ensure the safety and security of all the delegates and other spectators who will attend the summit even if they have not monitored any threats to the SEA Games.
The acting police chief bared that the “no fly zone” and “no sail zone” will also be implemented during the duration of the SEA Games.
Sermonia also said that while all security preparations are covered by Task Group Central Luzon authorities also appeal for full support and cooperation of the public through timely reports of any suspicious activity to prevent any eventualities or unfortunate incidents.