The chief of the Manila Police District (MPD) on Wednesday said several checkpoints will be placed during the Feast of Sto. Niño in Tondo and Pandacan to control the crowd who will attend the festivity.
Police Brigadier General Leo Francisco, during an interview on Super Radyo dzBB Wednesday, said additional personnel from the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) would be deployed to help the MPD in securing the feast day.
Francisco also reiterated that a liquor ban would be enforced during the feast day. He said the liquor ban would be implemented only in Tondo and Pandacan.
Earlier, the city government of Manila said curfew hours would be implemented too.
The MPD chief urged the public to no longer flock to the area as the threat of COVID-19 pandemic is still there.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko Moreno” Domagoso on Tuesday said that there would be no street party, stage show, and parades during the Feast of Sto. Niño in Tondo and Pandacan.
Executive Order No. 02, which Domagoso signed, states the need to provide stringent guidelines and regulations to avoid the spread of COVID-19 infections during the celebration on January 16 to 17.
Domagoso said such activities “can surely be an easy medium of COVID-19 spread and transmission thereby endangering the health, well-being and safety of the general public.”
The definitions of street party and other activities are as follows:
• Street party – shall refer to a party in which many members of a single community, congregate, either to observe an event of some importance or simply for mutual solidarity and enjoyment such as but not limited to Salu-Salo, dancing and/or singing in groups along public streets.
• Stage show – shall refer to stage activities such as but not limited to beauty pageants, dance, and singing contests, stage plays and other similar activities.
• Parade – shall refer to a public procession celebrating a special day or event such as but limited to Lakbayaw and other similar activities.
• Palarong Kalye – shall refer to all kinds of ball games such as but not limited to Basketball and Volleyball and other parlor games such as but not limited to Pabitin, Agawan Buko, Tumbang Preso, Sack Race and other similar games.
Aside from the prohibition of outdoor activities, curfew hours and liquor ban will also be enforced, he said.
Domagoso said barangay officials and personnel from the Manila Police District (MPD) are tasked to ensure that rules and regulations of the said directive will be followed.
