Commentary
SONA: Zipper Lane Returns
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is rolling out a zipper lane and rerouting scheme on Commonwealth Avenue this Monday, July 28, ahead of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s fourth State of the Nation Address (SONA).
Designed to ease movement for government officials and invited guests heading to the Batasang Pambansa, the zipper lane will operate as a counterflow system—one that’s expected to significantly affect traffic flow for regular motorists.
Map Reference: Visual aid shows the detour route in red with labeled roads and landmarks.
To minimize congestion, the MMDA advised motorists to take alternate routes:
- Northbound (Elliptical to Fairview): Use North Avenue → Mindanao Avenue → Sauyo Road or Quirino Highway.
- Southbound (Fairview to QMC): Take Sauyo Road or Quirino Highway → Mindanao Avenue → North Avenue.
- Light vehicles from C5: Divert through Magiting → Maginhawa → Mayaman → Kalayaan Avenue.
- Trucks from C5/Katipunan: Use Luzon Flyover → Congressional Avenue.
The agency also announced an all-hands-on-deck approach. Over 1,300 MMDA personnel will be on-site to manage vehicular and pedestrian traffic, clear obstructions, and respond to any emergencies. A “no-day-off, no-absent” policy is in effect for field teams.
For detailed guidelines for all traffic advisories from MMDA, we created a plan to navigate the roads during the event. The details are in the caption of each of the photos posted on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ht4aEQtVP/
Command centers will monitor traffic conditions and protest activities via CCTV. Emergency vehicles, patrol units, and road-clearing equipment will be stationed at key points.
Ahead of the big day, MMDA teams have begun sidewalk clearing operations around the Batasang Pambansa, targeting illegally parked vehicles and other obstructions.
While the goal is to ensure a smoother experience for SONA attendees, many commuters are already anticipating longer travel times. In recent years, this kind of setup has sparked mixed reactions from the public—some see it as necessary, others question the impact on daily road users.
What do you think of this approach? Is it effective, disruptive, or somewhere in between? Let us know in the comments.
“Imagine a scooter faster than your car—160 km/h on EDSA. Would you ride it, or would you run from it?”
If this hits our roads, it’s either the coolest thing you’ll see this year… or the quickest way to trend on Facebook for all the wrong reasons.
UK-based Bo is building the Bo M Turbo, an electric scooter aiming to break the world speed record at over 160 km/h. That’s faster than most cars in Metro Manila traffic—if you can even reach full throttle before hitting a jeepney.
The Turbo packs a 24kW dual-motor system, a 1.8kWh battery, Formula 1-inspired cooling, and quad-piston disc brakes. It even has a power-to-weight ratio higher than a Bugatti Veyron.
Bo’s team includes former Formula 1 and Bloodhound Land Speed Record engineers. They’re taking the Turbo to Bonneville Speed Week in Utah to prove it’s the fastest scooter in the world.
Built for Speed, Priced for the Rich
- Top speed: 160+ km/h
- Range: Up to 241 km at cruising speed (28 km/h)
- Price: Around $29,500 (~₱1.7M)
Not exactly a GrabBike replacement—this is for someone with a Mercedes-AMG in the garage who wants a smaller toy.
The Cheaper Option
Bo also sells the Model M for about ₱94,000, with a 35 km/h top speed and 48 km range. Good for city commutes without scaring pedestrians.
Would you ride a 160 km/h scooter in Manila, or should it stay on the race track?
Lamborghini is in a legal showdown with one of its U.S. dealers, accusing it of selling high-end supercars to unauthorized middlemen — and in some cases, to individuals linked to “drug dealers and pimps.”
At the center of the dispute is Gold Coast Exotic Imports in Chicago, Illinois. The Italian carmaker claims the dealership breached its contract by selling at least 32 vehicles in 2023 to brokers instead of directly to retail buyers or other authorized dealers.
Court filings allege that some buyers had no intention of keeping the cars, flipping them instead for hefty profits. In one example, Lamborghini says a car went to someone previously convicted of fraud tied to laundering money through luxury car sales to criminal networks.
The brand also accuses Gold Coast of demanding off-the-books kickbacks worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in exchange for access to limited-edition models. Since 2019, Lamborghini claims to have paid the dealership over $4 million in incentive bonuses.
Gold Coast denies the allegations, countering that Lamborghini has withheld funds for showroom upgrades, failed to cover marketing costs, and is trying to push out its president, 81-year-old Joseph Perillo Sr. The dealership has taken its grievances to the Illinois Motor Vehicle Review Board.
Despite the heated exchanges, both sides told U.S. District Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer they are in talks for an out-of-court settlement. If that fails, a trial could take place in December 2026.
This dispute follows another high-profile scandal involving Ferrari’s German dealer Mertel Italo Cars, accused of fraud and swiftly cut off by the brand. For Italy’s supercar makers, the twin controversies highlight the ongoing challenge of keeping their exclusive cars out of speculative or criminal hands — and protecting their carefully crafted image.
Quezon City went full force on August 8, 2025, with a large-scale “One-Time Big-Time” operation along G. Araneta Avenue, from Kaliraya Street to Palanza Street. The city aimed to keep roads clear, ease traffic, and prevent flooding caused by clogged drainage and obstructions.
The drive started at 8:00 a.m. and targeted several problem areas:
- Clearing streets and canals filled with garbage
- Removing illegal street dwellers
- Taking out road and sidewalk obstructions
- Towing illegally parked vehicles
- Issuing tickets to ordinance violators
The coordinated effort brought together the Traffic and Transport Management Department (TTMD), Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS), District Sanitation and Quality Control (DSQC), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Social Services Development Department (SSDD), Public Employment Service Office (PESO), and Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (QCDRRMO), with support from local barangays.
City officials who oversaw the operation included TTMD Head Dexter C. Cardenas, DPOS Clearing and Demolition Chief Remigio B. Gregorio, former District 1 councilor Ollie Belmonte, District IV Action Officer Atty. Zandy Zacate, and MDAD Head P/Col Alex D.J. Alberto (Ret.) PhD.
This was a follow-up to an earlier clearing operation held on August 6, 2025.
The city reminded residents to keep surroundings clean, avoid littering, and follow local laws. Officials stressed that discipline is a shared responsibility—not just the government’s job.
