THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will deploy more than 1,200 personnel starting Saturday, Jan. 7 to ensure the security of devotees for the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.
MMDA General Manager Thomas Orbos said a total of 1,245 MMDA personnel will be deployed around Quirino Grandstand, Quiapo Church and along the procession routes to assist in traffic management, public safety and emergency response operations.
The MMDA contingent will come from the Traffic Discipline Office, Road Emergency Group, Public Safety Division, Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group, and the Metro Parkways Clearing Group, which will conduct a massive cleanup on the procession routes right after the procession passed through.
The agency will also install emergency response tents and plastic barriers for the queue to the traditional Pahalik at the Quirino Grandstand on Jan. 7.
The MMDA also extended the operating hours of its Pasig River Ferry System service on Jan. 9 to provide an alternate mode of transportation for thousands of devotees joining the procession of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila.
Orbos said at least two ferry boats will also be on standby near Jones Bridge to respond to emergency situations during the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
He said the first trip of the special run of ferry service from Guadalupe Terminal in Makati City to Escolta Terminal in Manila will start at 5:30 a.m. The last trips from Escolta to Guadalupe station will be at 7 p.m.
Apart from the ferry boats’ extended operating hours, Gwapotel, a budget hotel managed by the MMDA, will also be offering a 20 percent discount to all Black Nazarene devotees going to the establishment, starting Jan. 7 until Jan. 9.
Orbos said he ordered the deployment of MMDA personnel to augment the Manila Police District to ensure a peaceful and orderly celebration of the religious event and the agency will also put up its emergency response tent at the Quirino Grandstand as early as Saturday.
“Plastic barriers for the queue to the traditional Pahalik will also be set up on Jan. 7. It was successful in ensuring orderliness last year, so we are doing it again this time, with some improvements,” he said.
Ambulances and other road emergency vehicles, traffic mobile patrol cars, tugboats, mobile surveillance and communications units, and all other necessary equipment and vehicles will also be dispatched.
The MMDA also released the procession route:
The grand procession will be from Quirino Grandstand going to Katigbak Drive thru P. Burgos, left Taft Avenue thru Jones Bridge, right Dasmariñas Street, right Plaza Sta. Cruz Street, left Carlos Palanca Street, thru under Quezon Bridge, left Quezon Boulevard, right Arlegui Street, right Fraternal Street, right Vergara Street, left Duque De Alba Street, left Castillejos Street, left Farnecio Street, right Arlegui Street, left Nepomuceno Street, left Concepcion Aguila Street, right Carcer Street, right Hidalgo thru Plaza Del Carmen, left Bilibid Viejo thru G. Puyat, left Z.P. De Guzman Street, right Hidalgo, left A. Bautista Street, right Globo de Oro thru under Quezon Bridge, right Palanca, right Villalobos thru Plaza Miranda to Quiapo Church.