Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said the city is prepared to assist and accommodate the large crowd of devotees filling the streets for the Traslacion on January 9.
Lacuna assured that authorities are doing their jobs to patrol the procession routes today to remove any potential obstacles.
“Kanina pong mga ala-sais ay pinaikutan po natin muli sa ating mga kawani iyung ruta ng Traslacion simula Quirino Grandstand hanggang Quiapo, para makita po na clear po sa any form of obstruction yung dadanan ng andas ni Senior Poong Nazareno,” Lacuna said.
Around 15 streets will be crowded, as they are part of the procession routes starting from Quirino Grandstand to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno in Quiapo.
“Sana po ay panatiliing malinis at walang obstruction ang daraanan ng Traslacion nang sa gayon po ay dire-diretso pong magagawa ang prusisyon,” she said.
In addition to the police officers assigned to Manila for the feast, staff from the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau were also tapped to assist in ensuring that no vehicles obstruct the roads, Lacuna emphasized.
Furthermore, Manila has enforced a liquor ban today, prohibiting the consumption or sale of alcoholic beverages within a 500-meter radius of Quiapo Church and along all Traslacion routes.
“To promote peace and order during the commemoration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, it is necessary to prohibit the sale of liquor and consumption of intoxication and alcoholic beverages within the 500-meter radius of Quiapo Church and all paths of the Traslacion in Manila City whether public or private taking into consideration the somberness of the occasion and in light of the participation of the general public, not just Manileños,” Lacuna’s Executive Order No. 1 stated.
Lacuna strongly advised that anyone feeling unwell should refrain from participating in the procession to avoid risking their health among the large crowd.
Roads to be used for the procession were blocked starting at 9:00 p.m. last night.