Procession crowd seen hitting 15M

For the Black Nazarene procession on Saturday, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) is expecting as many as 15 million people to attend, triple the crowd estimate it made during last year’s traslacion.

The PRC on Thursday said it would deploy 400 personnel along with 20 ambulances and other rescue vehicles to ensure the devotees’ safety.

There will be 18 first-aid stations along the route: At Quirino Grandstand, Museo Pambata, Katigbak, Aquino Monument, National Museum, Santa Cruz Church and Isetann Recto. There will also be an emergency field hospital at Bonifacio Shrine near City Hall.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said that from the grandstand, the procession will pass through the following route: Padre Burgos Street, Jones Bridge, Dasmariñas, Plaza Sta. Cruz, Quezon Bridge, Quezon Boulevard, Arlegui, Fraternal, Vergara, Duque de Alba, Castillejos, Farnecio, Nepomuceno, Aguila, Carcer, Hidalgo, Bilibid Viejo, Guzman, Barbosa, Globo de Oro and Villalobos. Maricar B. Brizuela and Tina Santos