DSWD and military personnels interview a wife who reported her lost husband at DSWD Help Desk at Quirino Grandstand. ANTHONY Q. ESGUERRA / INQUIRER.net
A missing husband and 15 lost children were found by authorities and the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Saturday during the commencement of the annual procession of the Black Nazarene at Quirino Grandstand in Manila.
The husband reportedly left his wife and two children behind to join the jam-packed “traslacion” or the procession of the Black Nazarene.
The wife, who said they were about to return home to Obando, Bulacan, reported the incident to DSWD Help Desk. The husband was found through the assistance of police authorities in the vicinity.
Furthermore, two elderly devotees were reported lost and found later on Saturday morning.
Benjie Barbosa, officer in charge for disaster response of DWSD National Capital Region, said the number of cases they handled was lower compared to previous years.
“We have lesser cases this year. Mas marami ang participants pero mas kaunti, mas nag-decrease naman ang cases (There are more participants but the number of cases decreased,” Barbosa told INQUIRER.net.
“I think normally peaceful naman ‘yan (traslacion). Magulo lang tignan pero peaceful ‘yan. Wala kang makikitang masamang resulta. Of course, may mga nawawala part of it lang ‘yan.”
(I think the (traslacion) is normally peaceful. It may look rowdy but it is really peaceful. You won’t see any bad results. Of course, those missing are only part of it.)
Barbosa added that the said situation can be attributed to the coordination among the government and non-government agencies as practiced in previous events such as the visit of Pope Francis in 2015 and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, both of which were held in Manila.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Red Cross as of 8:00 a.m. Saturday has handled three major cases (difficulty of breathing), minor cases (wound, eye abrasion, dizziness, bruises, hypoglycemia) and at least 85 people requested for blood pressure check.
As of press time, the “andas” (carriage) carrying the Black Nazarene was located along Padre Burgos St. in Manila. RAM
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