The City Transport and Traffic Management Office (CTTMO) on Thursday issued a notice for the temporary closure of certain portions of Roxas Avenue to make way for the Paghinugyaw-Sugat sa Bagong Tuig celebration.
To ensure a safe and orderly celebration, one stretch of Roxas Avenue (Aldevinco side) will be closed from the Ponciano Rotonda to corner C.M. Recto Avenue and from corner Padre Gomez to corner C.M. Recto Avenue. The closure will start on December 29 at 8 p.m. to January 1 at 4 p.m.
The other stretch of Roxas Avenue (ADdU side) will be converted to two-way traffic.
CTTMO Head Dionisio Abude assured the public that although a considerable length of Roxas will be closed for the Panighugyaw, there will be no repeat of the severe traffic on December 22 which was caused by several road closures for the Parada sa Pasko float parade.
“Dili na ingon na maka-experience ta og sobra ka guot na trapik kay ngano— ang plan sa maong activity is ma-confine diha sa Roxas Avenue, especially kadtong gina-occupy sa atong night market (We will not experience heavy traffic because the plan for that activity is to be confined in Roxas Avenue, especially those occupied by our night market),” Abude said during the Madayaw Davao program of the Davao City Disaster Radio on Thursday.
Roxas Night Market vendors will still be able to operate, however, their stalls will be moved beyond the Roxas Memorial to Quezon Boulevard.
“Ang night Market karon, musibog siya from Zamora padulong didto sa Boulevard. Magpalikod lang sila (The night market vendors will move back from Zamora to Boulevard. They will simply move to the back),” Abude added.
The CTTMO Chief said that enough CTTMO personnel will be deployed to guide traffic flow during the road closure.
Meanwhile, City Tourism Operations Office (CTOO) Officer-In-Charge Jennifer Romero invited residents and tourists alike to take part in the New Year’s event in Roxas Avenue.
“We are inviting everyone to join us sa December 31 sa Roxas Avenue. Dungan ta na musugat sa bagong tuig […] Let us share the responsibility of taking care of each other and making sure that everyone will have fun and at the same time everybody will be safe,” said Romero. The Paghinugyaw-Sugat sa Bagong Tuig New Year’s celebration will be the last Pasko Fiesta event for this Holiday Season and will feature a Torotot competition, musical performance from Mindanaoan talents and artists as well as a variety show. CIO
