BOCAUE, Bulacan—The Iglesia ni Cristo’s (INC) sprawling Ciudad de Victoria complex here will soon be opened to the public as it has been declared a tourism enterprise zone.
This developed as the religious organization prepared for its centennial celebrations on Sunday, while the Tollways Management Corporation (TMC) is bracing for increased traffic volume along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) starting Friday.
In his speech before the jampacked 55,000-seater Philippine Arena on Monday, Bro. Bienvenido Santiago, a minister of the INC, said that Ciudad de Victoria will soon be opened to all Filipinos and the international community.
He said that while the Philippine Arena, its leading facility and largest dome shaped arena in the world, will be the site for their grand centennial celebration on Sunday, it can be a venue for different events. However, Santiago stressed that the INC reserves the right to determine activities to be held in their facilities.
He said that activities to be held at Ciudad de Victoria “must conform to wholesome principles and Christian values.”
Along with the Philippine Arena, Santiago said that they also use for the first time on Sunday the completed Philippine Sports Stadium with a seating capacity of 20,000. With regards to the Philippine Sports Center which is nearing completion, it will also be opened to the public.
As a declared provincial tourism enterprise zone, the Ciudad de Victoria will also soon host a number of commercial establishments and can be a hub for sports events. As this developed, TMC is all set for the expected increase of traffic volume along the 85-kilometer NLEx.
Kiko Dagohoy, the media relations specialist of the TMC, said that to manage the volume of vehicles, additional toll personnel will be deployed in the affected plazas. He also said that additional traffic management and security personnel will be deployed at strategic areas including the Philippine Arena compound and at the interchanges critical to the event.
The TMC also identified designated U-turn slots for the attendees. Dagohoy said that delegates coming from north Luzon going to the Philippine Arena will turn at the Smart Connect Interchange or the Mindanao Avenue Link Interchange in Valenzuela City.
Those leaving the Philipine Arena and are Manila-bound will turn at the Tabang or Balagtas Interchanges at the designated U-turn slots just after the Toll Plaza exits. Dagohoy said that parking of vehicles will be at the local roads near the Philippine Arena vicinity.
Critical areas at NLEx especially from Meycauayan to Bocaue northbound will be declared as a tow-away zone during the event so as not to impede the traffic flow for our motorists. Likewise, to ensure the smooth traffic flow in the area and in the nearby communities, NLEx management has been closely coordinating with the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Philippine National Police.
Road works in NLEx have been suspended since July 16 in preparation for the event unless safety repair is required.
Road works and maintenance will resume on August 4.
