MANILA - Malacañang on Thursday downplayed public uproar over hellish traffic experienced in some parts of Metro Manila during the two-day state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping this week.

• Xi Jinping visit triggers hellish traffic

Motorists and commuters took to social media to complain about traffic jams caused by road closures and rerouting during the state visit.

Some noted that several roads were closed without prior announcement, causing inconvenience.

Presidential Spokesperson Salvador Panelo said traffic congestion in some parts of the capital during Xi's visit “should be understandable” given that some roads in Manila near Malacañang, where Xi was hosted Tuesday, were closed.

“That should be understandable given the fact that the Manila area, the work was suspended, hence all the motorists would not be passing here so they would have to converge in Makati area and other places,” Panelo said in a Palace news conference.

Panelo appealed for public understanding over the massive traffic.

“We have to live with that because the concern of the state would be the security of the visiting head of state (Xi),” Panelo said.

Among those who voiced displeasure was Rex Varona, who posted photos of people forced to walk on the part of the Skyway leading to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) due to a traffic gridlock.

“Kilometric line of cars stuck at the Skyway on way to NAIA because the expressway was unceremoniously locked down ‘so that the Chinese President Xi can pass,’” Varona said in a Facebook post Tuesday.

"Many passengers forced to walk, luggage and all, along the Skyway hoping to catch their flights. Sacrifice the welfare of thousands for the convenience of one,” he added.

Varona cited that no traffic advisories were released on the Skyway's closure during the Chinese leader's arrival.

In another social media post, netizen Juan Pablo complained that traffic lasted until midnight at the Bonifacio Global City (BGC) in Taguig, where the hotel where Xi stayed is located.

Xi, the first Chinese president in 13 years to go on a state visit to the Philippines, arrived in Manila on Tuesday morning.

He left on Wednesday afternoon after witnessing the signing of 29 deals between the Philippines and China and securing Duterte's agreement to elevate Philippine-China relations into a strategic cooperation.

The Presidential Security Group on Wednesday, meanwhile, appealed for understanding from those who were affected by heavy traffic and road closures during the Chinese leader's visit.

"In connection with the visit, we appeal to the understanding of those who may have been affected," Capt. Zeerah Blanche Lucrecia said in a statement.

The PSG added that while it sought the help of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) over preparations for route security for the Chinese leader, the implementation was left to the 2 other agencies.

"As to its implementation and how they accomplish such task, it’s their call and would involve their concept of operations, to ensure that the designated route/s is/are secured," the PSG said of the MMDA and PNP.

MMDA Spokesperson Celine Pialago, however, said the MMDA only served as an “augmentation” force to the PSG and that the final decision rested on the the president’s security team.

In 2015, President Rodrigo Duterte, then a Davao City mayor, came under fire after he cursed at Pope Francis after the latter’s visit earlier that year caused massive traffic in the metro.

Duterte said he got caught in a traffic jam during the Catholic leader’s visit.

Asked whether the President had something to say about the traffic caused by Xi’s visit, Panelo said: “None that I know of.”

Panelo added that there’s a “whale of a difference” between heavy traffic experienced during Xi’s visit and the Pope’s visit.

“If you compare the traffic yesterday against the pope’s visit, there’s a whale of a difference. That time, it took us 6, 7, 8,9, 10 hours. Not this one,” he said.