Around five million devotees are expected to participate in the Walk of Faith procession during the Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 8, the Manila Police District (MPD) said Wednesday.
“Like the tradition, we are still expecting that the usual 5 million devotees will participate in the activity,” MPD chief Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon said in an interview on GMA News’ Unang Balita.
Dizon said around 5,000 personnel will be deployed to different activities during the Nazareno 2023 festivities.
A send-off ceremony of designated personnel will be held on Thursday, he added.
The Walk of Faith procession, which served as an alternative to the traditional Traslacion, will start from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church on January 8 from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m.
Unlike in the Traslacion, the image of the Black Nazarene would not be exhibited during the Walk of Faith. Nazareno 2023 adviser Alex Irasga in December 2022 said traditional
activities will be conducted except for pahalik (kissing of Black Nazarene image) and pasanan (carrying).
The Quiapo Church has been adjusting some activities for the Black Nazarene feast in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, some roads will be closed to traffic on January 6 and 8 in light of the Nazarene 2023 activities, according to the MPD.
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) meanwhile said it will deploy at least 730 personnel during the activities related to the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
The MMDA said at least 730 personnel will be deployed to assist the Traffic Management and Clearing Operations from January 6 to 9, GMA News reported.
“The deployed personnel will come from the Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group (SCOG), who will be assigned for crowd control, Western Traffic Enforcement (WTED) who will assist in traffic management, and Metro Parkways Clearing Group (MPCG) who will deploy street sweepers to maintain the cleanliness of the area,” the agency said.
At least 25 portalets will also be installed for the devotees during the activities, according to the MMDA.
The MMDA said it tasked the Task Force Special Operations (TFSO) to clear the roads, while the Road Emergency Group (RSG) was instructed for emergency cases.
It added that the Metrobase personnel were ordered to monitor the activity situation through CCTV cameras in the command center.
Around 5 million devotees are expected to participate in the Walk of Faith procession during the Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 8, the Manila Police District (MPD) said Wednesday.
MPD chief Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon said around 5,000 personnel will be deployed to different activities during the Nazareno 2023 festivities.
The Walk of Faith procession, which served as an alternative to the traditional Traslacion, will start from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church on January 8 from 2 a.m. to 4 a.m.
The Quiapo Church has been adjusting some activities for the Black Nazarene feast in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unlike in the Traslacion, the image of the Black Nazarene would not be exhibited during the Walk of Faith.
Some roads will also be closed to traffic on January 6 and 8 in light of the Nazarene 2023 activities, according to the MPD.