As millions of devotees are expected to flock to Quiapo Church in Manila, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) said the Philippine National Police (PNP) is carrying out security measures in preparation for Traslacion 2025 with the deployment of some 12,168 police officers and firemen.
According to the DILG, the Manila Police District is set to mobilize 2,554 police officers to safeguard the followers of the Black Nazarene, while the Northern and Southern Police Districts (PDs), Quezon City PD, Police Regional Office-3 and 4A, will each send a contingent of 1,500 police personnel from their respective stations.
The Regional Mobile Force Battalion, on the other hand, will be deploying 848 police officers, 766 from the National Capital Region Police Office, and 500 from the Eastern PD.
Earlier, the PNP said a security plan will be implemented in coordination with the City of Manila, various government agencies, and other stakeholders with the Highway Patrol Group managing traffic flow and rerouting plans.
The PNP Intelligence Group and Anti-Cybercrime Group will likewise be on the lookout for potential physical and digital threats.
Meanwhile, 149 firefighters and one team of anti-chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection will also be on standby.
Last year, more than 6.5 million Black Nazarene devotees participated in the 5.8-kilometer procession from Quiapo Church to the Quirino Grandstand.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority announced alternate routes for vehicles and trucks during road closures on January 9.
Light vehicles coming from the South (Roxas Boulevard and Taft Avenue) can take United Nations Avenue, straight to Nagtahan Otis, turn left at Mabini Bridge towards Magsaysay Boulevard and Lacson Avenue to their destination.
Those coming from the North (Malabon-Navotas and Port Area) may pass through Anda Circle, then through Soriano Avenue (Intramuros), Magallanes Drive towards Chinatown.
Trucks heading to North Harbor from South Luzon Expressway may proceed straight to Osmeña Avenue, turn right onto Quirino Avenue, continue straight to Nagtahan Street towards Lacson Avenue, turn left onto Yuseco Street, and proceed to Capulong Street and turn right or left onto Road 10 towards destination.
Those coming from the Parañaque Area can turn right onto Quirino Avenue towards Nagtahan and Lacson Avenue to reach their destination. Trucks heading South can also use the same route.
The procession of the Black Nazarene will start at the Quirino Grandstand, and will turn right onto Katigbak Drive (left side), right onto Padre Burgos Street through Finance Road, continue straight to Ayala Bridge, turn left onto Palanca Street, right onto Quezon Boulevard, right onto Arlegui Street, right onto Fraternal Street, right onto Vergara Street, left onto Duque de Alba Street, left onto Castillejos Street, left onto Farnesio Street, right onto Arlegui Street, left onto Nepomuceno Street, left onto Concepcion Aguila Street, right onto Carcer Street, right onto Hidalgo through Plaza del Carmen, left onto Bilibid Viejo through Gonzalo Puyat, left onto J.P. de Guzman Street, right onto Hidalgo Street, left onto Quezon Boulevard, right onto Palanca Street through under Quezon Bridge, and finally right onto Villalobos through Plaza Miranda, leading to Quiapo Church.
The Multi-Agency Coordinating Center at St. Benedict Building, Quiapo Church was activated to be used by the MMDA, Philippine National Police, Philippine Coast Guard, and other government agencies.
The monitoring and surveillance will be conducted at the Coordinating Center to ensure the orderliness and security of the feast and the influx of people.
The MMDA Metro Parkways Clearing Group and MMDA Traffic Discipline Office have also set up see-thru fences, railings, and orange barriers at the Quirino Grandstand in Manila to ensure an orderly queue for devotees during the “Pahalik” to the image of the Black Nazarene.
The MMDA Road Emergency Group and Public Safety Division tents are ready for their first-aid stations to respond to those in need of medical attention.
Meanwhile Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexander Gesmundo announced there would be no work in the Supreme Court on January 9 as Malacanang declared that day a non-working holiday.
He said however that a skeletal workforce will be maintained in the Docket-Receiving Section if the Judicial Records Office and Cash Collection and Disbursement Office, and Financial Management and Budget Office.
