No general road closures during Asean Summit, says MMDA

MANILA, Philippines—No general road closures will be implemented during the 49th Asean Summit, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Wednesday.

This covers the period of Nov. 15 (Sunday) to Nov. 18 (Wednesday).

Motorists, however, may experience temporary traffic restrictions when convoys of visiting leaders pass through major roads.

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Atty. Victor Nuñez, director of the MMDA’s Traffic Enforcement Group, said road closures would only be imposed within designated security exclusion zones near the summit’s event venues.

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These zones include Atang Dela Rama St., Vicente Sotto St., Pedro Bukaneng St. and Magdalena Jalandoni St.

READ: MMDA announces Nov. 15-18 road closures, rerouting for Asean Summit

“So we’re very consistent in ensuring that we don’t have road closures,” Nuñez said during a press conference on the Asean traffic management and preparation plan.“Other roads, all major motorways, we don’t have road closures for the Asean,” he repeated.

Access to the vicinity of the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) and other designated areas will also be restricted to vehicles with Asean stickers and authorized personnel starting Nov. 9.

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“If you don’t have an Asean sticker, you can’t enter PICC, not even government vehicles,” Nuñez cautioned.

Motorists were advised to take alternative routes from Nov. 15 to Nov. 18 to avoid affected roads, particularly along Roxas Boulevard and areas leading to the Port Area.

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READ: Over 300 domestic flights rescheduled, canceled for Asean Summit 2026

For southbound motorists, the MMDA advised taking EDSA, turning right onto Diokno Boulevard, then proceeding to Macapagal Boulevard.

Meanwhile, northbound motorists may take Seaside Boulevard, turn right onto Macapagal Boulevard, then left onto EDSA and left onto Roxas Boulevard.

Instead of full road closures, the MMDA will implement a stop-and-go traffic scheme, particularly when convoys of visiting heads of state pass through major roads.

Under the scheme, motorists may be temporarily held to give way to the convoys, with regular traffic allowed to proceed once they have passed.

Visiting heads of state will be escorted by the Highway Patrol Group and the Presidential Security Command Group. Nuñez guaranteed that the convoys would “pass quickly.”

MMDA Chair Atty. Don Artes added that traffic interruptions under the stop-and-go scheme would be minimal, with motorists allowed to proceed after the convoys pass.

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Artes urged motorists to bear with the temporary traffic adjustments, noting that the Asean Summit is an important event for the country, with several world leaders and foreign media representatives expected to attend. /apl