The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is set to deploy a contingent of 1,000 personnel to help make the 2020 Traslacion of the Black Nazarene safe, peaceful and orderly.
MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said the contingent is composed of personnel from the agency’s Metro Public Safety Office (MPSO), Traffic Discipline Office, Metro Parkways Clearing Group, Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group. The contingent is tasked to assist the police, concerned government agencies and the local government of Manila in maintaining order throughout this year’s annual religious activity.
“Our action plan is already in place. Aside from manpower, ambulances, road emergency vehicles, traffic mobile cars, and other necessary equipment will also be dispatched,” said Lim.
“Volunteers have also committed to help for this year’s Traslacion.”
According to the traffic chief, volunteers have also committed to help for this year’s Traslacion. They will be hand in hand with MPSO in rendering first-aid treatment to devotees and providing rescue and emergency response when needed.
Michael Salalima, concurrent Chief of Staff, Office of the General Manager and Focal Person for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, said tents, plastic barriers and fences are now being set up at Quirino Grandstand in Manila City where several activities would happen. These include the ‘Pahalik’ or kissing of the Black Nazarene’s image, procession of Black Nazarene replicas, the vigil, and Eucharistic celebration.
“We are now installing barriers for the traditional ‘Pahalik’ as crowd control measure.”
“We are installing barriers for the traditional ‘Pahalik’ as crowd control measure and help bring order during the queuing of devotees,” said Salalima.
Lim has ordered the clearing of the procession’s route of obstruction and debris for the safety of the devotees.
On January 9, several roads in Manila will be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic for the procession. The route of the Traslacion will start at the Quirino Grandstand, Katigbak Road thru Padre Burgos St., Finance Road thru Ayala Boulevard, Palanca St., Quezon Boulevard, Arlegui St., Fraternal St., Vergara St., Duque de Alba St., Castillejos St., Farnecio St., Arlegui St., Nepomuceno St., Concepcion Aguila St., Carcer St., Hidalgo thru Plaza Del Carmen, Bilibid Viejo thru Gil Puyat, JP De Guzman St., Hidalgo St., Quezon Boulevard, Palanca St. thru under Quezon Bridge, Villalobos thru Plaza Miranda and ends inside the Quiapo Church.
Street sweepers and road clearing group members will be positioned at the tail of the procession so they can immediately clear roads of all types of clutter.