Ghio Ong | June 25, 2022
While he is firm on being “Citizen Isko” after his only term as Manila mayor ends on June 30, former presidential bet Isko Moreno said he will just “be around” if his service would be needed.
Manila Mayor Isko Moreno has declared the inauguration of incoming president Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. on June 30 as a special non-working holiday throughout the city.
Marcos will take his oath as president at the National Museum of Fine Arts building along Padre Burgos Avenue in Ermita. He will be the fourth president inducted in the old legislative building after Manuel Quezon, Jose Laurel and Manuel Roxas.
In his Executive Order 53, Moreno said the decision to suspend classes and work during Marcos’ inauguration as the 17th Philippine president would be “fitting and proper, that all citizens of the country, in general, and residents in the city of Manila, in particular, be given full opportunity to witness and welcome this significant event in the life of the nation.”
He also ordered the Manila Police District (MPD), as well as barangay officials and other law enforcement units, to strictly adopt and implement security measures.
Meanwhile, Moreno said that while he is firm on being “Citizen Isko” after his only term as Manila mayor ends on June 30, he will just “be around” if his service would be needed.
“Beta beta muna ako sa gedli. Kung kakailanganin ng tulong ng pamahalaan at kung makatulong ako sa taumbayan (I will just be on the side. If the government needs help and I would be of service to our countrymen), why not. If I’m going to be needed I’ll be there, I’ll be happy to be of service. But for now, citizen Isko,” Moreno said in his trademark slang language.
Road closures
Roads around the National Museum and other areas will be closed for the inauguration of Marcos Jr. next week.
From June 26 at 12:01 a.m. to June 30, the following roads would be closed to vehicular traffic: Padre Burgos Avenue, Finance Road, Ma. Orosa Street from the corners of TM Kalaw Ave-nue to Padre Burgos and General Luna Street from Padre Burgos to Muralla Street.
Mendiola Street will also be closed starting June 29, 12:01 a.m.
On inauguration day, June 30 from 4 a.m., the following roads would also be closed to traffic: Ayala Boulevard, Victoria Street from Taft Avenue to Muralla, Jalandoni Street in PICC, Pa-say City.
Meanwhile, Legarda Street from San Rafael to Figueras Street, and CM Recto Avenue from SH Loyola to Mendiola will be off limits starting 1 p.m. on June 30.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Task Force Special Operations chief Edison Nebrija yesterday said they are clearing alternate routes to be used by motorists on inauguration day.
Nebrija said areas near National Museum are being cleared from obstructions, particularly Taft Avenue. A part of Roxas Boulevard is also being cleared of illegally parked vehicles, the of-ficial said.
“The main concern for us is the truck route. They will come from Osmeña to Quirino, to Lacson, to Yuseco Capulong then they will go out at R-10. That area has a lot of obstructions. There are a lot of illegally parked vehicles there, and there are trucks. Their containers are left there, so we are clearing them,” he added.
Intel gathering
PNP Director for Operations Maj. Gen. Valeriano de Leon ordered police commanders in Metro Manila to intensify intelligence gathering and focus on monitoring and preemptive strikes against threat groups ahead of the inauguration of president-elect Marcos.
In a statement, De Leon said the instruction was given amid reports that there are groups planning to sabotage the inauguration of Marcos.
De Leon added that starting June 28th, the PNP would activate Task Force Manila Shield to ensure protests against Marcos are done in designated freedom parks – Plaza Miranda, Plaza Dilao, Plaza Moriones and Liwasang Bonifacio.
According to the PNP, more than 15,000 policemen, soldiers, Coast Guard personnel and other force multipliers will be deployed for the inauguration.
Police Regional Office-3 director Brig. Gen. Matthew Baccay said they have been continuously conducting intelligence monitoring to prepare for possible threats to disrupt the presidential inauguration on June 30.
Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte police spokesperson Maj. Jepphre Taccad said they have not received any information on any threat of violence but they will still deploy a battalion to guard the Laoag City Centennial Arena for the mass inauguration of newly elected provincial, municipal and city officials on June 27. – With Ralph Edwin Villanueva, Ric Sapnu
Source: https://www.onenews.ph/articles/holiday-declared-in-manila-for-marcos-inaugural