By Aerol John Pateña/PNA
MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will deploy its traffic enforcement and sidewalk clearing personnel to assist the public during this year’s Traslacion of the Black Nazarene which is expected to draw millions of devotees.
In a statement on Friday, the MMDA said a total of 350 personnel will be deployed as early as January 6 for the procession of Black Nazarene replicas on January 7 and the traditional “pahalik” or kissing of the image at the Quirino Grandstand on January 8.
The agency will also assign 850 personnel within the vicinity of the Quirino Grandstand, Quiapo Church and along the procession route to ensure the safety of devotees who will join the annual Traslacion on January 9.
The MMDA’s Western Traffic Enforcement Division will be in charge of traffic management in the designated route of the procession and alternative route for motorists while the agency’s Road Safety Unit will put traffic cones and barriers at Luneta and the processional route.
The Sidewalk Clearing Group will be in charge of crowd control during the “pahalik” while the Metro Parkway Clearing Group will conduct its clearing of obstruction, particularly garbage at the Luneta Parade Ground and roads along the 5.9-km procession route.
“Street sweepers will immediately clear roads of all types of clutter. Emergency teams will be deployed at the Grandstand and along the route of the procession to assist those who would be injured,” MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim said.
Ferry boats of the Pasig River Ferry Service will be on standby at the Jones Bridge in Manila while traffic mobile patrols, ambulances, road emergency vehicles, mobile surveillance and communication units and other necessary equipment and vehicles will also be dispatched.
The MMDA advises motorists of road closures along the Traslacion route which will start from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church.
The route of the Grand Procession of the Black Nazarene will be from the Quirino Grandstand to Katigbak Drive through P. Burgos, left Taft Avenue through Jones Bridge, right to Dasmarinas Street, right to Plaza Sta. Cruz Street, left Carlos Palanca Street under Quezon Bridge, left Quezon Boulevard, right Arlegui Street, right Fraternal Street, right Vergara Street, left Duque de Alba Street, left Castillejos Street, left Farnecio Street, right Arlegui Street, left Nepomuceno Street (counterflow), left Aguila Street, right Carcer Street, right Hidalgo through Plaza del Carmen, left Bilibid Viejo through Puyat, left Guzman Street, right Hidalgo Street, left Baustista (Barbosa) Street, right Globo de Oro through under Quezon Bridge, right Palanca Street, right Villalobos through Plaza Miranda to Quiapo Church.
The MMDA expects around 13 to 15 million participants in this year’s Traslacion.
