Interior and Local Government Secretary Benhur Abalos on Monday conducted an ocular inspection at the Quiapo area for the Traslacion 2024 where he declared that security preparations and coordination between the uniformed personnel are in place.
The Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the so-called volunteers and force multipliers of Manila, Abalos said have already been versed well with their respective roles and are 100 percent prepared for the annual celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
A total of 15,000 uniformed personnel will be deployed in almost all corners and path of the traditional parade for the safety of the estimated 2.3 million devotees.
Abalos, in an interview, said that all the public and the religious followers have to do is cooperate and follow the directives coming from the authorities.
The DILG chief was accompanied by the PNP chief General Benjamin Acorda Jr., National Capital Region Police Office director Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., BFP chief Director Louie Puracan and BFP-NCR director Chief Supt. Nahum Tarroza in touring the church vicinity.
According to Abalos, a control room with closed circuit television cameras will be put up to exclusively monitor the entire parade of the Black Nazarene and the activities around.
Abalos assured that the barefoot devotees will have no problems regarding the potholes and other distractions they may encounter in the streets during the entire traditional Traslacion process.
Come Traslacion Day, Abalos reminded the devotees and participants of the things that they should not do such as wearing of cap and hoodie jacket, refrain from bringing backpack, water bottle, umbrella and raincoats, firecrackers and pyrotechnics and most especially deadly and bladed weapons.
Intoxicated persons are not allowed to join the parade while the no-fly zone and no drone zone will be implemented within the vicinity.
Fire Director Puracan said that close to 2,000 firefighters will be deployed to augment the PNP and the AFP but will be tasked mainly for the medication and emergency side.
Meanwhile, roads passing through Quiapo church have been closed since 9 p.m. yesterday and will remain so until the next day at 12 p.m
This was learned from Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna during an interview at the vicinity of the Quiapo church where she was joined by top government officials led by Abalos, PNP Chief P/General Acorda and other agencies.
Lacuna advised motorists to veer away from the area.
She said Manila had been working since last year on the preparation of the said event and so far she said that all concerns had been addressed through the joint effort of different agencies of the government the PNP, AFP, Philippine Coast Guard, DoH, BFP, etc.
