Devotees urged: Keep face mask on at ‘traslacion’

Nazareno 2024: Live Updates for The Feast of Black Nazarene

Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna —NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

Authorities urged devotees to wear face masks and observe physical distancing while participating in activities marking the Feast of the Black Nazarene in the City of Manila on Jan. 9, especially during the “traslacion,” or the grand procession, to prevent a surge in COVID-19 cases. At a news briefing at Quiapo Church on Thursday, organizers said that minimum health protocols would be enforced during Masses and at Quirino Grandstand where the venerated image of the Black Nazarene would be put on display starting on Jan. 6.

“We request those who will attend Mass (inside Quiapo Church) to wear masks. In Manila, (COVID-19) positive cases are not that high but to avoid any surge, we hope the public will cooperate,” Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna said.

But Quiapo Church parish priest Fr. Rufino Sescon Jr. clarified that they would not limit the number of church-goers. “We know that COVID-19 is already endemic. We are just taking care to avoid a surge,” he said.

READ: Quiapo Church reminds public of do’s and don’ts during Traslacion 2024

The Department of Health (DOH) also issued a similar reminder as it “strongly” urged the public to wear face masks and ensure good airflow during the procession.

Earlier, it announced that it would place hospitals on code white alert starting Jan. 6, in which medical personnel would be on “on-call status for immediate mobilization” to ensure their readiness to respond to possible emergencies.

No touch, no kiss

The DOH urged devotees to refrain from touching and kissing religious images to avoid the transmission of communicable diseases.

“Our data shows the continuous low transmission and mild presentation of COVID-19 locally,” it said in a statement. It also reported a “consistently low percentage of severe and critical cases (of COVID-19) among hospital admissions, currently at 11 percent.”

From Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, the DOH said the daily average new cases was 449, which was 10 percent lower than the 501 average daily cases from the previous week of Dec. 19 to 25.

Nonworking day

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr., through Proclamation No. 434, has declared Jan. 9 a special non-working holiday in Manila to celebrate the feast day.

“It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Manila be given full opportunity to participate in the occasion and enjoy the celebration,” said the proclamation signed on Thursday by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin.

The annual procession of the Black Nazarene was suspended for the past three years due to the pandemic.

Fr. Hans Magdurulang, the Quiapo Church parochial vicar, earlier said they were expecting at least 22 million people to join the series of activities between Dec. 31 to Jan. 10.

Clearing operations

In preparation for the procession, a team from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Manila City government cleared obstructions along the 6-kilometer-long traslacion route.

MMDA Chair Don Artes said that the operation on Thursday, conducted by personnel from the agency’s Special Operations Group-Strike Force and the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau, aimed to ensure the smooth flow of the procession, which was expected to draw millions of devotees.

“Clearing operations are part of the government’s preparations so that routes are passable and obstruction-free for the safety and security of the devotees that would participate in the procession,” Artes said.

A total of 58 vehicles parked along the procession route were apprehended by the team, with 22 towed away.

Artes said the MMDA was all set to provide traffic and emergency assistance before, during and after the feast day, including the “Pahalik” or the kissing of the Black Nazarene image at the Quirino Grandstand.

Road closures

Motorists and the commuting public were advised to take note of roads that would be closed for the procession starting at the Quirino Grandstand up to Quiapo Church.

This year’s traslacion would follow the same route taken in 2020: From the Quirino Grandstand, turn right on Katigbak Drive (left side), right on Padre Burgos Street through Finance Road, straight to Ayala Bridge, left on Palanca Street, right on Quezon Boulevard, right on Arlegui Street, right on Fraternal Street, right on Vergara Street, left on Duque de Alba Street, left on Castillejos Street, left on Farnecio Street, right on Arlegui Street, left on Nepomuceno Street, left on Concepcion Aguila Street, right on Carcer Street, right on Hidalgo through Plaza del Carmen, left on Bilibid Viejo through Gonzalo Puyat, left on J.P. de Guzman Street, right on Hidalgo Street, left on Quezon Boulevard, right on Palanca Street through under Quezon Bridge, right on Villalobos through Plaza Miranda, with Quiapo Church as the end destination.

At least 15,200 police personnel would be deployed to secure the traslacion, according to PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr., with additional forces to be pulled out from nearby regional police offices.

No-fly, no-sail zone

Acorda said that the City of Manila would be a no-fly zone on Jan. 9. Signal jammers were also being considered to be deployed as a “contingency” measure.

Manila Police District director Col. Thomas Arnold Ibay told reporters that so far, they have yet to receive any threats.

But the city police are taking no chances as stringent security measures will be in place during the event.

“We will implement a ‘no sail zone’ around Quirino Grandstand and a ‘no flying zone’ over the entire procession route from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo [Church],” Ibay said.

Lacuna also announced a ban on liquor, firecrackers and guns in the city on Jan. 9. —WITH REPORTS FROM NESTOR CORRALES AND RUSSEL P. LORETO