President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday declared 9 January (Tuesday) a special non-working holiday in the City of Manila for the annual Traslacion, or the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

In his Proclamation No. 434, signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin, Marcos said this is to allow Manileños to take part in the activities related to the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

"On 9 January 2024, Tuesday, the City of Manila will mark the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene," the proclamation read.

"It is but fitting and proper that the people of the City of Manila be given full opportunity to participate in the occasion and enjoy the celebration," it added.

Traslacion — the procession that draws millions of devotees to Quiapo Church and surrounding areas in Manila — would return after being suspended for more than three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

According to the Philippine National Police, around 2.5 million devotees are expected to join the yearly traditional procession.

As part of its preparation, PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda, Jr. said some 13,700 policemen would be deployed in key areas and procession routes of the Black Nazarene in Manila to ensure the safety of the participants.

For its part, the Department of Health announced today that all hospitals in the National Capital Region will be placed on code white alert starting 6 January in preparation for the annual Traslacion.

Code White Alert is declared during national events, holidays, or celebrations that can potentially cause mass casualty incidents or emergencies.

During Code White Alert, identified medical personnel and staff are placed on standby for the immediate acceptance and treatment of incoming patients at the hospitals.

According to the Health department, eight health emergency response teams, each equipped with ambulances, will be strategically deployed along the Traslacion route to provide advanced emergency medical services to the thousands of devotees expected to participate in the event.