Manila Mayor Joseph “Erap” Estrada on Wednesday ordered the Manila Police District to maintain its heightened alert status for the two-day celebration of the Chinese New Year this weekend.
Estrada, who has been participating in the CNY festivities in Binondo every year, said he wants the occasion welcoming the Year of the Fire Rooster to be as peaceful and orderly as possible.
“The Chinese-Filipino community has been supportive of the city government and during their special day, we will ensure that our law enforcement units and other security and emergency personnel are on full alert to protect them and maintain peace and order,” Estrada said.
The mayor also signed Executive Order No. 2, declaring the suspension of work at City Hall and classes in all schools in Manila’s District 3, which covers the Binondo, Sta. Cruz and Quiapo areas.
Estrada said he leaves it to the “capable hands” of MPD Director Chief Supt. Joel Coronel to secure the CNY’s different events, especially the countdown and parade in Binondo.
The New Year’s Eve countdown will be held on Friday, January 27, at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Plaza in front of Binondo Church, where the program will start as early as 5 p.m., Coronel said. Police are securing this area “as early as lunch time of Friday,” he added.
Manila police will deploy their advanced security personnel, complete with Explosive Ordnance Disposal teams and K-9 units to “panel” the area and close it to pedestrians and vehicular traffic, Coronel said.
“The (road) closures will only be implemented when the program starts. There will be ‘stop-and-go’ traffic management to clear the streets leading to the Plaza San Ruiz,” the police chief said.
To reinforce the 155 policemen assigned in Binondo, the MPD will field an additional 500 policemen to the area.
“So, far, we have not received any actual or direct threats of imminent nature that would constitute clear and present danger on this particular activity,” Coronel said. “Of course, the PNP remains on high alert. It has never been lifted nor lowered, so we will have full deployment in that particular area.”
For the parade on January 28, its route will be closed from the time the participants start it, Coronel said.
“And as soon as the parade passes by, we will open again the part of the route it passes. It’s a stop-and-go closure, no permanent closure, until at the Lucky Chinatown Mall where all of them will converge and with the start of the program, we will temporarily close those roads,” he said.
Coronel estimated that up to 30,000 people will join the parade, and close to 10,000 people will converge at the Plaza San Ruiz for the countdown.
As to the possible shutdown of mobile phone signals that could trigger bombs remotely, the MPD chief said he does not see the need for it. “Nonetheless, we will be on alert on the grounds.”
“The PNP will be there to provide round-the-clock safety and security operations, so based on the recommendations, there will be no closure or shutting down of cellular sites,” he pointed out.
Former third district Rep. Naida Angping, chairwoman of the Chinese New Year Preparation Committee, announced that the program on January 27 at the Plaza San Ruiz will start at 5 p.m. with cultural performances, concerts, and traditional dragon dances.
“This year, we are going to make the celebration in the heart of Chinatown. There will be two days for the celebration. This year, we will have a Chinese New Year Festival, which will be held at the San Lorenzo Ruiz Plaza in front of the Binondo church, and that is really the heart of Binondo,” Angping said.
The countdown ceremonies will start at 11:30 p.m., which will be led by Estrada. He will be distributing around 2,000 boxes of “tikoy” or sticky Chinese cakes, Angping added.
The New Year Unity Parade will start at 4 p.m. on January 28, she said.
