NCRPO, church execs to hold meet for ‘traslacion’

MANILA, Philippines — Officials of the National Capital Region Police Office, city government of Manila and Quiapo church are set to meet today to finalize security preparations for the “traslacion,” NCRPO chief Director Oscar Albayalde said yesterday.

He said they will also conduct a walk-through of the “traslacion,” a procession held on the feast day of the Black Nazarene on Jan. 9.

Initially, 4,000 police officers would be deployed to secure not only the procession route but also to conduct anti-crime operations, Albayalde said.

The NCRPO chief noted that not all of those attending the procession are devotees – some of them are snatchers, pickpockets and robbers.

In last year’s procession, it took the image of the Black Nazarene around 22 hours to reach Quiapo church from Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park.

An estimated 15 million devotees joined the procession.

“Last year we expect the procession to be over in 18 hours but it took us 22 hours to reach Quiapo church. This year we expect the event to exceed 22 hours,” Albayalde said.

Manila Police District spokesman Superintendent Erwin Margarejo said the procession will go through the route set in the past few years.  

The procession will start at the Quirino Grandstand and will pass Katigbak Drive, Padre Burgos, Jones Bridge, then turn right on Dasmariñas street, right at Plaza Sta. Cruz, turn left at Palanca street and straight to Quezon Bridge.

From Quezon Bridge, the procession will take a left turn at Quezon Boulevard, right turn at Arlegui, right turn at Fraternal, right turn at Vergara, go through Duque de Alba, left turn at Castillejos, left turn at Farnecio, right turn at Arlegui, left turn at Nepomuceno, left turn at Aguila, and right turn at Carcer street.

From Carcer, the procession will take a right turn at Hidalgo and straight to Plaza del Carmen, left turn at Bilibid Viejo straight to Gonzalo Puyat, left turn at Guzman, right turn at Hidalgo, left turn at Bautista, right turn at Globo de Oro and straight to Quezon Bridge, right turn at Palanca, right turn at Villalobos and straight to Plaza Miranda.

Margarejo said there has a noticeable increase in the devotees each year so they expect 17 to 20 million devotees to attend this year.