It's a traffic nightmare on Kennedy... so getting out of the city through Autopista Duarte will take time. The area is mostly industrial - there are a lot of dark empty places where one could easily be ambushed day or night. The new buildings north of Kennedy are pretty nice but it's an isolated walk to get there, with no guaguas or publicos to take you directly to them. So your own car or using a taxi all the time is a must. I wouldn't recommend the area. Take Robert's advice... go look for yourself and you'll know what we mean.
You must be talking about another area. there is not place with more Buses, Publicos, motoconchos, voladoras (small buses that fly on the road) and taxis, than Manoguayabo.
Manoguayabo is a big area. there are some good mediun low class neigborhood around that are very quiet and there are others full of colmadones and tigueres. So, it will depend where you are.
I recommend to visit the area by yourself. and look around. it is not danger at all.
I live in Alameda (a middle upper class area) just north to Manoguayabo, so I pass almost everyday for the area.
One good thing is that they dont have much apagones. in Alameda we have real 24 hours elect. (lot of generales live here), I really dont remember last time I have a apagon. just few mins. sometimes for maintenance.
So Manoguayabo benefit from this.
I think the best area for live in manoguayabo is 1 block left of 27 (if you coming from Luperon), and before Ave. Manoguayabo. there you will find some nice mediun class houses. and the area is quiet.