Portions of Commonwealth to be closed for 2019 SONA

Take alternate routes on July 22, 2019

President Rodrigo Duterte is set to hold his State of the Nation Address (SONA) for 2019 at the House of Representatives Complex in Quezon City on July 22, 2019. As expected, a number of security measures will be implemented to safeguard the President. Motorists should expect heavy traffic in the area as well as on roads leading to and from the Batasan Pambansa Complex.

To help affected motorists avoid the area and seek alternate routes, the Quezon City Police Department (QCPD) Public Information Office has released a full list of rerouting activities together with their timelines for the SONA 2019. Motorists are advised to take note of the rerouting and plan their alternate trips ahead of time.

By 12:01 AM on July 22, the entire stretch of Commonwealth Avenue (both north and southbound), starting from Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC) to Fairview Center Mall will be cleared. Any illegally parked vehicles will be towed. Meanwhile, Commonwealth northbound shall be partially closed starting from Home Depot to the Sandiganbayan U-Turn Slot. Southbound lanes shall continue to remain open. Eastbound of IBP road starting from Filinvest 1 to Sintagala will be closed to traffic to give way for rallyists and demonstrators.

At 6:00 AM, motorists coming from QMC to Fairview shall take a zipper lane starting at the island breaker in front of the Home Depot U-turn. The zipper lane will end at the island breaker of Sandiganbayan U-turn slot. Southbound motorists from Fairview shall continue to traverse along Commonwealth.

Starting 2:30 PM, light vehicles from QMC heading to Fairview are advised to take North Ave., turn right to Mindanao Ave., turn right to Old Sauyo Road, turn left to Chestnut St., turn right to Dahlia St., turn left to Fairlane St. then exit to Commonwealth once more, and continue towards their destination. Meanwhile, light vehicles coming from Fairview to QMC may turn right to Fairlane St., turn right to Dahlia St., turn left to Chestnut St., turn right to Old Sauyo Road, turn right to Mindanao Ave., take U-turn at corner Quirino Highway to Mindanao Ave., left turn North Ave. to QMC to destination. Heavy vehicles should continue to take Commonwealth, be it northbound or southbound.

By 4:00 PM, the entire stretch of IBP (formerly Batasan) Road may be locked down to traffic. If the IBP Road is locked down, all light vehicles from QMC to Filinvest 1 & 2, Brgy. Bagong Silangan and some inner portions of Brgy. Batasan Hills must take the zipper lane at the island breaker in front of Home Depot U-turn slot which will end at the breaker of Sandiganbayan U-turn slot. Motorists will then turn on Litex Payatas Road, right turn on Abris St., right turn on Bougainvillea St., right turn to Lower Jasmin St., right turn to Ilang-Ilang St., left turn to Santan St., left to Sampaguita St., left turn to Violago Road and meters away right turn and enter the gate 3 of Filinvest 2. Those going to Brgy. Bagong Silangan will just continue along Violago Road.

Light vehicles going to Filinvest 2, San Mateo Rizal and Marikina City may take an alternate route from Commonwealth-Sandigan, turn right on Sinagtala St., turn right on Senatorial St., turn left on Resolution St., left turn on Kagawad Road then right turn on Batasan San Mateo Road.

At 6:00 PM, after the SONA, only the westbound lane of IBP Road leading to Sandiganbayan underpass/tunnel shall be opened for VIPs exiting from the Southgate of the House of Representatives going to Commonwealth Ave. However, the westbound lane from Litex to HOR Southgate will remain closed until further notice.

Police Brigadier General Joselito T. Esquivel, Jr. is appealing to the public to be more patient and understanding especially to those who will be affected by the SONA. Esquivel also advised affected motorists to stay at home if there is no important transaction on the day.