THE La Trinidad municipal government has released temporary traffic routes for March 18 to 23 to pave the way for the celebration of the annual Strawberry Festival.

Mayor Romeo Salda signed Memorandum Order No. 03 s.2019 directing temporary traffic routes in view of the festival activities in anticipation of the influx of tourists in Benguet’s capital town.

“In order to ensure the safety and convenience of the participants, tourists and visitors for the aforementioned events, there arises the need to reroute traffic along roads where said activities are held,” the memorandum reads.

On March 18, the southbound rightmost lane of Halsema Highway will be closed to traffic from 6:00 to 9:30 a.m. for the civic parade from the COA area to the municipal hall.

The two remaining lanes will be open to two-way traffic.

On March 23, all lanes will be closed to traffic from 6:30 a.m. until 12 noon to give way for drum and lyre, street dancing and non-motorized float competition from COA to the municipal hall.

In lieu of the upcoming celebration, Salda also lifted the number coding scheme in the valley starting March 18 to 22 to provide better mobility to visitors and stakeholders.

A special non-working holiday in the municipality is also set for March 18.

To recall, former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo on March 13, 2004 issued Presidential Proclamation No. 585 declaring the date of the Strawberry Festival as a non-working holiday.

The celebration seeks to promote strawberry as the one town, one product of the municipality.