The recent Traslacion 2020 did not just draw devotees of the Black Nazarene to join the annual procession, it also showed just how dedicated are the personnel of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) are.
About 1,000 MMDA personnel remained on duty on their respective areas of assignment as the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene slowly moved from the Quirino Grandstand back to its home at the Quiapo Church.
“Our personnel remained in their respective assignments until every trash left by devotees were collected.”
“Our personnel remained in their respective assignments until the image of the Black Nazarene arrived at the Quiapo Church and until every trash left by devotees were collected,” said MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim.
MMDA traffic personnel served as guides from the Quirino Grandstand and along the procession route to ensure the safety of the devotees.
At 4:12 a.m. on January 9, the Traslacion officially started with thousands of devotees, many clad in maroon and yellow shirts and barefoot, walking along with the “andas” or carriage bearing the image.
Members of the Metropolitan Public Safety Office, headed by Michael Salalima, gave medical assistance to 173 devotees who suffered minor injuries and complained of dizziness and difficulty of breathing.
Clearing operations also begun as the procession moved along the route of the Traslacion.
As of 2 p.m. on January 9, street sweepers of the MMDA who followed the procession collected 12 truckloads of garbage along the procession route.
“Our personnel positioned themselves at the tail of the procession to efficiently gather trash immediately.”
“Our personnel positioned themselves at the tail of the procession to efficiently gather trash immediately. A dump truck of the Manila City government was dispatched,” said Lim.
Trash trash collected by the MMDA along the Traslacion route were mostly plastic food wrappers, empty plastic water bottles, and food packaging.
The collected trash were then hauled to Pier 18 in Manila for disposal.