Preparations in place for annual Black Nazarene procession

By Camille A. Aguinaldo, Reporter
MANILA Mayor Joseph E. Estrada suspended classes on Jan. 9, Wednesday, in all levels of public and private schools in Manila as security preparations are geared up for this year’s Traslacion or the procession of the Black Nazarene.
The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and authorities at Quiapo Church also issued the procession route of the Black Nazarene statue on Friday.
City Administrator Ericson A. Alcomendaz announced the class suspension at a televised press briefing in Quiapo Church on Friday.
“I would like to inform you that Mayor Erap signed yesterday Executive Order No. 1, Series of 2019 suspending classes in all levels, both public and private, on Jan. 9, 2019,” he said.
Work at the Manila city government is suspended that day, except for offices involved in the procession. Suspension of work in government agencies and private offices is left to the discretion of their respective heads, Mr. Alcomendaz added.
The city government will also impose a no-vendor policy during the procession, the city administrator said.
For his part, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) chief Guillermo T. Eleazar said the police force will observe a no-fly zone, no-sail, and no-cellphone signal zone around the areas that the Black Nazarene procession will go through. He said the police force is already 85% complete with its preparations.
He reiterated that the Philippine National Police (PNP) will also dispatch around 7,200 police personnel to ensure the safety of the 2.5 million devotees expected to join the procession.
MMDA chairman Danilo D. Lim said in a statement that his agency will deploy 850 personnel near the Quirino Grandstand, Quiapo Church, and along the route of the statue procession.
The route of the Grand Procession of the Black Nazarene will be from the Quirino Grandstand to Katigbak Drive thru P. Burgos, left Taft Ave. thru Jones Bridge, right to Dasmarinas St., right to Plaza Sta. Cruz St; left Carlos Palanca st. under Quezon Bridge, left Quezon Blvd., right Arlegui st., right Fraternal st., right Vergara st., left Duque de Alba st., left Castillejos st., left Farnecio st., right Arlegui st., left Nepomuceno st. (counterflow), left Aguila st., right Carcer st., right Hidalgo thru Plaza del Carmen, left Bilibid Viejo thru Puyat, left Guzman st., right Hidalgo st., left Bautista (Barbosa) st., right Arlegui st., left Quezon Blvd., right Palanca st. under Quezon bridge, right Villalobos thru Plaza Miranda to Quiapo Church.
The MMDA will be in charge of managing traffic in the designated routes of the procession and alternative routes for motorists.
A sidewalk-clearing group will also help in crowd control while the Metro Parkway Clearing Group will manage road clearing at the Luneta Parade Ground and on roads that are part of the procession route. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will also take part in clearing operations before the event.
Health stations will be designated in key areas by both the city government and the Department of Health (DoH).
Traslacion is an annual event of the Quiapo Church wherein devotees carry the Black Nazarene statue along the streets of Manila, commemorating the transfer of the statue from Luneta to Quiapo in 1868.