At least 1,000 traffic enforcers of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and 10,000 policemen will be deployed during the “Traslacion” or the procession of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.
Several roads in Manila will be closed to vehicular traffic to pave way for the procession, organizers said.
“The route of the Traslacion will start at the Quirino Grandstand, Katigbak Road through Padre Burgos St., Finance Road through Ayala Boulevard, Palanca St., Quezon Boulevard, Arlegui St., Fraternal St., Vergara St., Duque de Alba St., Castillejos St., Farnecio St., Arlegui St., Nepomuceno St., Concepcion Aguila St., Carcer St., Hidalgo through Plaza Del Carmen, Bilibid Viejo through Gil Puyat, JP De Guzman St., Hidalgo St., Quezon Boulevard, Palanca St. through under Quezon Bridge, Villalobos through Plaza Miranda and end at Quiapo Church.”
“Personnel from the agency’s Metro Public Safety Office, Traffic Discipline Office, Metro Parkways Clearing Group, Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group will be deployed to ensure the safety of the devotees and to manage traffic in the area,“ MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said.
MMDA’s additional deployment is meant to help the police, concerned government agencies, and the local government of Manila in maintaining order during the “Feast of the Nazarene” in Quiapo district.
NCRPO vowed to field at least 10,000 cops to ensure safe and peaceful procession.
To immediately clear roads of garbage, street sweepers and road clearing group members will be positioned at the tailend of the Black Nazarene’s procession.
“Our action plan is already in place. Aside from manpower, ambulances, road emergency vehicles, traffic mobile cars, and other necessary equipment will also be dispatched,” the MMDA said in a statement.
Lim said that there will also be volunteers who will help cater to the medical needs of the devotees, saying they will be working hand-in-hand with MPSO in rendering first-aid treatment to devotees and providing rescue and emergency response when needed.
MMDA said tents, plastic barriers and fences are now being set up at Quirino Grandstand in Manila where several activities will take place. This includes the traditional “Pahalik,” procession of Black Nazarene replicas, Vigil, and Eucharistic Celebration.
Lim also ordered the clearing of the procession’s route of obstructions and illegally parked vehicles.
Manila Mayor Francisco “Isko” Domagoso, for his part, appealed to the millions of devotees of the Black Nazarene to keep Manila streets clean during the Feast of Nazarene.
Domagoso said he will deploy additional street sweepers from the city’s Department of Public Sanitation to follow the “Traslacion” who would pick up the litters that would be left behind by the devotees.
The mayor said he would also ban sidewalk vendors along the “Traslacion” route which contribute most of the trash being left behind by the people who will join the procession.
Domagoso also said that Jones Bridge was not included in this year’s “Traslacion” route to ensure the safety of the devotees.
The bridge was not built to handle the weight of thousands of devotees and it should not be used for the Traslacion,