MMFF 2023 Parade of the Stars: Here are the road closures and alternate routes

It’s Metro Manila Film Festival (MMFF) season once again, and before this year’s film entries are shown at cinemas beginning December 25th, the festival will first have its annual parade this weekend.

The MMFF 2023 Parade of the Stars will be held on Saturday, December 16, 2023, and will pass through the four CAMANAVA cities: Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela. The parade route is 8.7km long, taking off from Navotas Centennial Park at 2pm and passing through Circumferential Road 4 (C-4), Samson Road, and MacArthur Highway en route to Valenzuela People’s Park. The estimated travel time is three hours.

MMFF Parade of the Stars route

MMFF 2023 parade route from Navotas Centennial Park to Valenzuela People’s Park PHOTO BY Google Maps

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), which, if you didn’t know, is the organizer of the MMFF, is warning motorists to avoid the parade route on Saturday, adding that it expects thousands of spectators to show up.

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“With the expected influx of spectators and movie fans, we have prepared a traffic management plan to mitigate the effects on vehicular flow,” said Atty. Romando Artes, MMDA acting chairman.

The agency, the Navotas City Public Information Office, and the Valenzuela City local government have announced the following “temporary lane closures and counterflow” for the event:

MMFF 2023 Parade of the Stars affected roads

1. C-4 Road, from Navotas Centennial Park to A. Mabini Street (12nn to 8pm, temporary lane closures and counterflow)
2. Samson Road, from A. Mabini Street to Monumento Circle (12nn to 8pm, temporary lane closures and counterflow)
3. MacArthur Highway, from Monumento Circle to C. Santos Street (12nn to 8pm, temporary lane closures and counterflow)
4. MacArthur Highway southbound, from Karuhatan to Marulas (2pm onwards)
5. R10 northbound and southbound, from Baron Street to Centennial and C-4 (12nn to 3pm, road closure)
6. Southbound Karuhatan entry and exit of NLEX Segment 9 (4pm to 10pm)
7. Northbound Karuhatan entry and exit of NLEX Segment 10 (4pm to 10pm)

Extended truck ban hours will also be implemented on MacArthur Highway from Malanday to Marulas, from 12nn to 11:59pm on December 16.

Heavy traffic is expected along roads perpendicular to the above-mentioned thoroughfares. The MMDA advisory says that “motorists with no business in the area are encouraged to avoid the affected route,” but if you really have to drive through CAMANAVA on Saturday, take note of these alternate routes:

MMFF 2023 Parade of the Stars alternate routes

1. If traveling from Malabon to Navotas, take Gov. Pascual Avenue and M.H. del Pilar Street.
2. If heading to Monumento, take Gov. I. Santiago Road, M.H. del Pilar Street, and Samson Road.
3. Motorists may also opt to take North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).
4. If heading to Manila from Cardoniga Street and San Marcos Street, turn left onto C-4, make a right at 7-Eleven, and proceed to North Bay Boulevard en route to destination.
5. The section of C-4 going to M. Naval Street en route to Monumento will remain open.

6. A. Pablo Street will have a one-way scheme for light vehicles en route to Marulas and Monumento.

According to the MMDA, 1,000 personnel will be deployed along the parade route to help manage traffic, control crowds, and ensure the safety of spectators.