This Week in Metro Manila (February 22 to 28, 2020)

Early mornings will be less cold this week since the northeast monsoon will get weaker and the cold winds will not be as intense. The good news is that skies will remain sunny and cloudy with a small chance for rainfall. The weather will be ideal for outdoor activities because of clear skies and pleasant day temperature ranging from 30 °C to 32 °C. Apply sunscreen and wear breathable fabrics. Meanwhile, expect cool nights the entire week that range in temperature from 23 °C to 24 °C [1].

Although the MMDA has yet to announce the suspension of the number coding scheme on February 25, this can be expected since it has been practiced over the years. Follow MMDA’s social media pages for announcements regarding affected areas [2].

The Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) opened the NLEX Harbor Link Malabon last February 21. The Harbor Link is along Dagat-Dagatan Avenue in Caloocan and is about 1.2 kilometers long. It will serve as an alternate passageway for motorists heading to the port area from NLEX. The toll fee would be free for a month; after that, an additional PhP2 toll will be charged. The harbor link is expected to reduce travel time from the port area to NLEX in just 10 minutes [3].

Heads up, motorists: remember to be extra patient along Balintawak Interchange starting February 22 to March 5 as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced the closure of three lanes near the interchange.

Starting February 14 until March 5, one lane along the north side of EDSA Balintawak towards the direction of NLEX is closed to give way to the construction of a vertical bridge support under the EDSA bridge for the Skyway Stage 3. Meanwhile, two lanes along the south of EDSA Balintawak are also closed until March 5. The closure is due to the construction of the interconnection tower on top of the EDSA Bridge. One lane along A. Bonifacio Avenue will also be closed to traffic, but will be accessible from 11:00 PM to 8:00 AM every night from February 22 to February 29 [4]. The MMDA advises motorists to check alternate routes that will get them to their destinations.

The City Government of Manila unveiled the musical dancing fountain surrounding the Bonifacio Monument. The latest attraction will be open daily to the public and will have hourly 15-minute light shows from 6:30PM to 11:30PM [5]. It is part of the local government’s plan to improve public spaces and tourist spots in Manila.

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