CITY OF SAN FERNANDO - Two days before the most anticipated Giant Lantern Festival (GLF) on December 17, the festival's Executive Committee has formulated a comprehensive traffic scheme to avoid the massive pile up of vehicles at the vicinity of Robinsons Starmills, the venue for the “Ligligan Parul.”
GLF Executive Committee member Marnie Castro said that strict traffic measures will be implemented during the lantern festival to avoid traffic gridlocks which have been plaguing Jose Abad Santos Avenue (JASA) for several consecutive weekends now.
Castro said that the holiday rush is really just around the corner but the working committee will be doubling their efforts to manage the flow of traffic to and from the venue.
He disclosed that the City Traffic Management Office (CTMO) will be on full force to man and manage traffic and will be augmented by the Philippine National Police.
A rerouting scheme has been set to ensure smooth flow of traffic, Castro added.
He noted that vehicles going to SM City Pampanga will be required to use the East Gate Center road and proceed to Barangay Lagundi before making a U-turn.
He stressed that designating a U-turn between the two giant malls will further slow down vehicles and may cause the anticipated traffic jams.
He added that the executive committee and the city government will be coordinating with the local government of Mexico to ensure that the roads that will be utilized will be cleared and not obstructed by parked vehicles or other equipment.
Castro also disclosed that all types of trucks will also be prohibited from passing by JASA and will be directed to the old road in Barangay San Jose here.
The CTMO will also be apprehending vehicles that are illegally parked along the major thoroughfare as well as public utility vehicles that are loading and unloading in undesignated areas.
"One of our major concerns is 'yung traffic kasi tayong lahat tatamaan dito. We are doing our best to manage it at sana tulungan din tayo ng public," he said.
The executive committee also advised those who would watch the lantern festival at 6:00 pm to come earlier to avoid being stuck in the traffic and experience inconveniences.