LIST: Road closures in Manila begins January 6 for Black Nazarene feast

Photo: Manila Public Information Office (Facebook)

MANILA, Philippines — Several roads in Manila will be closed to traffic starting January 6, for the upcoming Black Nazarene celebration, the Manila Police District (MPD) chief said on Tuesday.

In a press conference, MPD Director Police Brigadier General Andre Dizon said the following roads will be closed to traffic from 10 p.m. of January 6 until January 9:

• Stretch of Katigbak Drive
• Stretch of Independence Road
• Stretch of South Drive
• Northbound and Southbound lanes of Roxas Blvd. from South Drive to Katigbak Drive

Meanwhile, Dizon also said the following roads will be closed  from 12:01 a.m. of January 8 until January 9:

• Northbound and Southbound lanes of Quezon Blvd. from A. Mendoza/Fugoso to Quezon Bridge straight to P. Burgos (Park N’ Ride)
• Westbound and Eastbound lanes of España Blvd from P. Campa to A. Mendoza
• Stretch of Evangelista St. from Plaza San Juan to C.M. Recto Ave.
• Stretch of Raon St. from Evangelista to Quezon Blvd.
• Stretch of P. Paterno St. from Quezon Blvd. to Evangelista
• Stretch of Carriedo St. from Rizal Ave. to Plaza San Juan
• Stretch of C. Palanca St. from Macarthur Bridge to Quiapo Ilalim (Quinta Market) straight to P. Casal
• Stretch of Bustos St. from Plaza Sta. Cruz to Rizal Ave.
• The northbound lane of Rizal Ave. from Carriedo to C.M. Recto Ave.
• The northbound lane of McArthur Bridge

Dizon said affected motorists could take the following rerouting schemes instead:

1. All trucks and trailer trucks coming from Delpan Bridge shall turn around at Anda Circle to the northbound lane of Mel Lopez Blvd. to C-3 to the point of destination.

2. All light vehicles coming from Bonifacio Drive utilizing the southbound lane of Roxas Blvd. shall turn left P. Burgos, right Ma. Orosa, right to TM. Kalaw left to MH. Del Pilar or left to Roxas Blvd. Southbound to the point of destination.

3. Light vehicles plying the northbound lane of Roxas Blvd. shall turn right to TM Kalaw, then turn left to Ma. Orosa left to P. Burgos to the point of destination.

4. All trucks and trailer trucks intending to utilize the northbound lane of Roxas Boulevard shall turn right to Quirino Avenue to Plaza Dilao to the point of destination.

5. All vehicles coming from McArthur and Jones Bridge intending to utilize the southbound lane of Roxas Blvd. from P. Burgos shall take Round Table, then to Ma. Orosa or use Taft Avenue to the point of destination.

6. All vehicles intending to utilize Quezon Blvd coming from A. Mendoza shall turn right to Fugoso St., left to Rizal Ave. or Severino Reyes St. to the point of destination.

7. All vehicles coming from Quezon City using the westbound lane of España Blvd. shall turn left to Tomas Mapua St. (Morayta), turn right to C.M. Recto Ave. or turn right to P Campa St., to Fugoso St. to the point of destination.

8. Vehicles coming from P. Burgos Ave. intending to ply Quezon Bridge or McArthur Bridge shall go straight to Jones Bridge to the point of destination.

9. Vehicles coming from Ayala Bridge intending to traverse Palanca St. shall go straight to P. Casal St. to the point of destination.

For the third consecutive time, the Traslacion has been canceled. It was first canceled in 2021, when the COVID-19 pandemic struck the country.

The annual procession is a reenactment of the 1787 Traslacion — literally means “solemn transfer” — of the image from its original shrine in Bagumbayan, the present Rizal Park, to the Quiapo Church.

Also, instead of the traditional “Pahalik,” devotees can just approach and touch the image of the Black Nazarene, according to Fr. Earl Valdez, attached priest of Quiapo Church.

Meanwhile, other activities for the Black Nazarene will now resume, such as the hourly celebration of the Holy Mass at the Quiapo Church and the mass at the Quirino Grandstand headed by the Archdiocese of Manila, Valdez also said.

JPV/abc