Classes in Manila suspended Jan. 9, 2019 for Nazarene traslacion

MANILA, Philippines — Classes in all levels of both public and private schools are suspended in the city of Manila on Jan. 9 to give way to the celebration of the feast of the Black Nazarene. 

Work at the Manila City Hall is also suspended on Jan. 9, except those working in offices directly involved in the preparations for Black Nazarene events.

The order was issued by Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada, according to city administrator Ericson Alcovendaz.

Private offices in the city have the discretion on whether or not to suspend work.

Quiapo Church officials said yesterday that it’s “all systems go” for the traslacion or transfer of the Black Nazarene, which involves throngs of devotees in procession from Rizal Park to the church. 

Church rector Monsignor Hernando Coronel, echoing Philippine National Police-National Capital Region Police Office (PNP-NCRPO) chief Director Guillermo Eleazar, said they are around 85 percent complete in the preparation to secure the devotees who would be attending the activities of the Black Nazarene, including the Pahalik and the traslacion. 

“It is a go. It is a strong go,” Coronel said.

Eleazar said there is no threat group out to sabotage the feast of the Black Nazarene.

He, however, called on the people to maintain vigilance as he urged the public to report immediately to the nearest police station any suspicious-looking person or baggage.

“We received no threat aimed at the traslacion. But we kept on closely coordinating with other police and military and the intelligence community for us to be kept posted on any threat groups,” Eleazar said.

Earlier, PNP chief Director General Oscar Albayalde pointed out that there’s no need for the police to put up a “big intelligence network” for the traslacion but for the public to help in securing the event.

The NCRPO will deploy at least 7,200 policemen at Quirino Grandstand, the route of the traslacion and Quiapo Church on Jan. 9.

The traslacion from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church spans approximately 6.1 kilometers and policemen would secure all corners of the route, Eleazar said.

“There would be medical teams in the areas where CCTV cameras would also be posted. The security involved an inter-agency effort, including the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority),” he said.

Work at the Supreme Court (SC), Court of Appeals (CA) and at the courts of Manila would be suspended on Jan. 9 to give way to the observance of the traslacion of the Black Nazarene. 

At past 5 p.m., the SC posted on its Twitter account that it decided to cancel work on Wednesday out of consideration that their employees would have difficulty in reporting to work. 

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) would deploy 350 personnel to augment preparations for the traslacion next week. 

Coronel said the preparations include road clearing operations to be undertaken by Manila City Hall, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) this weekend. 

This year’s traslacion would carry the theme “Hinirang at Pinili Upang Maging Lingkod Niya.”

Alcovendas expressed full support for the international pilgrimage of the Black Nazarene and beginning today (Saturday, Jan. 5) they would be inspecting and removing obstacles from the grandstand, along the route and all the way to Quiapo Church.

Since December they have also been paving the roads and covering the open manholes along the route.

They went around the inner streets of Quiapo, such as Carlos Palanca Street, last Thursday and have informed the barangay chairman in the area that they should remove parked vehicles this weekend so the local government could thoroughly inspect and conduct repairs if needed. 

He added that they would also be strict in implementing the no vendors policy after several truckloads of trash were left behind by devotees and vendors themselves during the Jan. 9 traslacion in past years.

In 2017, 65 truckloads of trash were hauled after the procession. On Jan. 10 last year, they stopped counting after they filled up 95 trucks of garbage. “The organizers have been lenient. But this time around we would be more strict in implementing the ‘no vendors’ policy,” Alcovendas said.

On the part of the Philippine Coast Guard-National Capital Region-Central Luzon (PCG-NCR-CL), district director Rolando Punzalan Jr. announced they would be deploying 350 persons and 30 floating assets along Manila Bay, located behind Quirino Grandstand, and parts of the Pasig River.  

The PCG has also lent 28 explosive detection dogs to the MPD.

They will incorporate medical teams on board their floating assets and deploy Special Operations Group (SOG) divers and anti-terrorism teams.

The route of the procession will begin at Quirino Grandstand, turn left to Katigbak Drive through Padre Burgos, left to Taft Avenue through Jones Bridge, right to Dasmariñas, right Plaza Sta. Cruz, left Carlos Palanca under Quezon Bridge, left Quezon Blvd., right Arlegui, right Fraternal, right Vergara, left Duque de Alba, left Castillejos, left Farnecio, right Arlegui, left to Nepomuceno, left Concepcion Aguila, right to Carcer, right to Hidalgo through Plaza del Carmen, left to Bilibid Viejo through Gil Puyat, left JP de Guzman, right to Hidalgo, left to Barbosa, right Arlegui, left Quezon Blvd, right to Palanca passing under Quezon Bridge, right to Villalobos through Plaza Miranda and then to Quiapo Church.   With Non Alquitran, Ghio Ong, Evelyn Macairan