No free rides but barefoot Black Nazarene devotees allowed inside LRT

MANILA, Philippines - The Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) will allow barefoot devotees to ride LRT trains during the Feast of the Black Nazarene on January 9.

Lawyer Hernando Cabrera, LRTA spokesperson, announced this in his Twitter account on Tuesday but clarified that there will be no free rides for the devotees and ordinary passengers on Thursday.

According to a radio report, Cabrera expects the number of passengers in the LRT Line 1 from Monumento to Carriedo to double due to the much-anticipated event.

Cabrera said they will increase the number of their tellers and security personnel.

Mga nakayapak na deboto ng Poong Nazareno papayagan na makasakay sa tren ng LRT sa darating na 09 January 2014, Pista ng Itim na Nazareno.

— Hernando T. Cabrera (@attycabs) January 6, 2014

Wala po Libreng Sakay sa LRT sa darating na 9 January 2014, Thursday, Pista ng Itim Nazareno.

— Hernando T. Cabrera (@attycabs) January 6, 2014

On Thursday, at least 12 million devotees are expected to attend the Black Nazarene procession that will start from the Quirino Grandstand to the Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo, Manila.

Read: Manila wants to make Black Nazarene feast an int’l pilgrimage

The millions of devotees are expected to walk barefoot as a sign of penance or thanksgiving for answered prayers.

The carriage bearing the image of the Black Nazarene, which is believed to be miraculous, will take a longer but safer route this year.

The traditional procession will skip MacArthur Bridge due to concerns over the bridge’s stability.