Low tide delays Peñafrancia fluvial procession

NAGA CITY — Low tide prompted the city government and the Archdiocese of Caceres to move the schedule of the fluvial procession of the Our Lady of Peñafrancia later into Saturday evening.

In a public advisory, the Naga City government said the Pontifical Mass will be held at 3:30 p.m., instead of the usual noontime schedule, while the procession will begin at 6:30 p.m.

The Emergency Operations Center-Incident Management Team said the images of the Bicol patroness and the El Divino Rostro (Holy Face) will leave the Metropolitan Cathedral at 6:30 p.m. and are expected to reach the “danlugan” or port on the Naga River below the Tabuco Bridge at around 8:30 p.m.

The images are expected to be placed on the pagoda by 9 p.m. for the fluvial procession to the Dagsaan, the landing port near the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia.

The pagoda’s journey is expected to take about 90 minutes, followed by another Mass at the Minor Basilica at around 11 p.m.

Mayor Leni Robredo said in a Facebook post that the Joint Operations Center of the Archdiocese of Caceres, Naga City government and other stakeholders decided to wait for high tide before proceeding.

She said the rains this September had not been sufficient to raise water levels. She also noted that the flood gates at the Sabang Bridge, which have been closed for years, failed to store water because of leaks.

Robredo said the Department of Public Works and Highways had committed to fund repairs to the Sabang Bridge flood gate in 2027.