MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Saturday reported having hauled-away six truckloads of garbage from the grounds of the Quirino Grandstand at the Rizal Park where devotees of the Black Nazarene gathered for the traditional “Pahalik” of the centuries-old image.
According to the MMDA, as of 10 a.m. Saturday, some 600 street cleaners carted-away a mountain of trash composed mainly of plastic food containers, newspapers, and rubber slippers.
The MMDA earlier said it would be deploying some 1,680 personnel for the “Traslacion” or the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene from the Quirino Grandstand to the Quiapo Church.
The deployed MMDA personnel include traffic enforcers, emergency rescue personnel and members of the agency’s Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group.
According to National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) spokesperson, Chief Inspector Kimberly Molitas, as of 1 p.m., the crowd of devotees pulling the image’s “andas” or carriage had swelled to 1.303 million as they made their way down the Jones Bridge.
The crowd meanwhile waiting for the image’s return at the Quiapo Church was estimated by the NCRPO at 70,000 as of 1 p.m.