Traffic plan for Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival bared
BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

(Akeanon) Re-routing scheme para sa Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival, ginpaguwa / Bombo Radyo

http://www.bomboradyo.com/other_dialect.asp?ID=127066

SPO3 Benny Jones Mendoza (left) of the Kalibo police station shows the traffic rerouting map during the Kapihan sa Aklan at the Kalibo Plaza Canteen with Mayor Raymar Rebaldo (right) and Municipal Planning and Development officer Edgardo Gerardo / PHOTO BY BOY RYAN ZABAL

KALIBO, Aklan - The Philippine National Police (PNP) bared a traffic rerouting scheme for the Kalibo Ati-Atihan festival celebration this week.

Over the popular Kapihan sa Aklan every Saturday, Kalibo traffic division chief SPO3 Benny Jones Mendoza released a traffic advisory that will be implemented to decongest the heavy traffic in anticipation of tens of thousands of tourists and devotees of Señor Sto. Niño de Kalibo of the annual fest.

The town of Kalibo, considered the home of the Mother of All Festivals, is celebrating the world-famous Ati-Atihan festival highlighted by street dancing and religious procession every third week of January. Those affected by the rerouting plan are motorists and vehicles coming from the northern and eastern parts of Aklan, Mendoza said.

All vehicles bound to Iloilo from the Kalibo-Numancia bridge will go straight to Roxas Avenue Extension then turn right to Calachuchi road, to Fernandez Street, turn right to Raz Menez Street and then turn left to Osmena Avenue and to point of destination.

All vehicles coming from Iloilo or Roxas City bound for Caticlan will take the Toting Reyes Street then turn left to Roxas Avenue and then go straight to Kalibo-Numancia bridge and to point of destination, according to the traffic advisory.

Mendoza said the stretch of Mabini from Desposorio Maagma Sr to Roxas Avenue and the route of the procession are closed to all types of vehicles on January 13 during the Higante Parade and Aklan Festival Showdown at 12 noon, on January 16 at 6 a.m. for the Ati-Atihan contest and on January 17 at 1 p.m. for the religious street procession.

All shuttle buses and L300 vans from Kalibo International Airport going to Caticlan are also advised to use Quezon Avenue, turn right to Toting Reyes Street, turn left to Roxas Avenue straight to Kalibo-Numancia bridge and to point of destination.

Vehicles from the northern part of Aklan bound to Kalibo International Airport intending to use the Roxas Avenue Extension should take Judge Martelino Street and turn left to Quezon Avenue.

Meanwhile, Kalibo police chief Senior Insp. Arnolito Laguerta is eyeing a stricter security preparations for the Kalibo festival with hundreds of policemen and force multipliers on full alert to secure the foreign and local visitors.

Laguerta said the policemen will be deployed in nine community police assistance centers and major areas to ensure the orderliness of the procession and the merrymaking of tribes.