Cops see Nazarene crowd 15% bigger; traffic advisory out

AP PHOTO

Some 6,100 security personnel will be deployed in Manila on Jan. 9 in anticipation of the millions of devotees joining the annual procession of the Black Nazarene of Quiapo.

The number of policemen securing the route and surrounding areas would be about a thousand more than that deployed last year, according to Senior Supt. Joel Napoleon Coronel, deputy district director for operations of the Manila Police District.

This is because Black Nazerene crowd has been growing by 10 to 15 percent each year, according to Coronel. Last year, an estimated nine million devotees took part in the procession, he recalled.

In an advisory issued Friday, Manila District Traffic Enforcement Unit said heavy traffic is expected Jan. 9, Thursday, on the stretch of Roxas Boulevard and Bonifacio Drive from Anda Circle to T. M. Kalaw, on both north and southbound lanes.

The following areas would also be affected by the procession: southbound of Quezon Boulevard from Recto to Palanca; the stretch of Lerma from P. Campa to Quezon Boulevard; Taft Avenue-Finance (westbound lane); Lagusnilad-P. Burgos (westbound lane); P. Burgos-Taft Avenue (Freedom Triangle-northbound lane); Villegas-N. A. Lopez and 25th Street-Bonifacio Drive (southbound).

The following roads will also be closed to vehicular traffic:

On Jan. 8, starting 8 a.m.: Katigbak Drive and South Drive

On Jan. 9, starting 3 a.m.:  southbound lane of Quezon Boulevard, from Andalucia, Fugoso to Plaza Miranda and España-P.Campa-Lerma

Also, starting 3 a.m. on Jan. 9, all vehicles coming from Quezon City through España should turn right at P. Campa, left at Andalucia, right at Fugoso, and left at T. Mapua to point of destination.

All public utility jeepneys and light vehicles coming from España going to South Pier Zone should turn left at Nicanor Reyes, right at Recto straight to JAS, left at Reina Regente, take Jones Bridge and then right at Magallanes Drive to point of destination.

Vehicles coming from the northern part of Manila going to Bonifacio Drive southbound must turn right at Roberto S. Oca Street, left at Delgado, left at Bonifacio Drive (for Port Area offices) or right at A. Soriano to Magallanes Drive, right at P. Burgos, then straight to Lagusnilad and Taft Avenue.

All vehicles coming from southern Manila going to P. Burgos should take T. M. Kalaw, turn left at Taft Avenue, right at Ayala to Ayala Bridge to point of destination.

Private motorists from the southern Manila who wish to take the northbound lane of Roxas Blvd. should turn right at Quirino Avenue and take Nagtahan Bridge to their destination.

All PUJs plying the Monumento-Gasak-Recto route intending to take Andalucia through Recto should turn right ar Fugoso and right at Oroqueta.

All vehicles coming from Legarda should turn right at Recto or left at Mendiola to point of destination.

All heavy vehicles and cargo trucks coming from the south should take Osmeña, right at Quirino to Nagtahan via A. H. Lacson to Capulong (and vise versa).

All buses coming from the eastern part of Manila, particularly G-Liner and RRCG buses using Legarda, should turn right at Palanca toward Quiapo Ilalim. Buses coming from Taft Avenue going to Fairview must turn right at UN Avenue up to Otis, left at Nagtahan and straight up to Lacson, then right at España.

Buses coming from Laguna and Cavite provinces through Taft Avenue are not allowed to enter from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and are allowed only up to Remedios Street and then right at San Marcelino.—Erika Sauler

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