MMDA enforcers asked to wear adult diapers on Nazarene feast

Catholic devotees jostle to get closer to the centuries-old image of the Black Nazarene in a raucous celebration on its feast day Wednesday, Jan. 9, 2013 in Manila, Philippines. The annual procession by hundreds of thousands of devotees is now becoming to be a tourist attraction. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines–Not enough portalets on the Feast of the Black Nazarene? Adult diapers will solve the problem–at least for traffic enforcers in Manila.

Two thousand adult diapers will be distributed to 2,000 traffic enforcers securing the parade of the Black Nazarene on Friday, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chief Francis Tolentino said on Wednesday.

Why resort to diapers? Tolentino said they came up with the idea because of the shortage of portable toilets to be installed on the streets of Manila during the Nazareno’s parade, which is expected to draw thousands of devotees.

“Para hindi na nila kailangang umalis sa mga position nila. Hindi na kakayanin ng portalets sa Pista ng Nazareno (So that they would no longer need to leave their posts. And we also lack portalets for the Nazarene feast),” Tolentino said in an interview.
“Kasi kapag umalis ka sa pwesto mo at pumila ka sa portal, baka isang oras na hindi ka pa nakakabalik. Kung sabay sabay lahat jijingle wala ng tatao doon (If you go to portalets, it may take you more than an hour to go back to your post),” he said.
The first batch of adult diapers will be given to traffic enforcers on Thursday.

Normally, a piece of an adult diaper can absorb up to four rounds of urination, Tolentino said.
The wearing of adult diapers may also be implemented on the visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines on January 15 to 19.

“The agency will distribute diapers for the Feast of the Black Nazarene. This could also be a dry run for the papal visit,” Tolentino said.

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