Monday, January 8, 2018

Road closures, rerouting schedules set for Tuesday Black Nazarene ‘Traslación’

ALL types of vehicles are not allowed to pass several roads leading to Quiapo Church starting on Monday evening to give way to the annual Traslación of the Black Nazarene from Rizal Park to Quiapo Church on January 9.

Chief Insp. Alejandro Pelias of the Manila Police District’s Traffic Enforcement Unit disclosed the road closures and rerouting plan scheduled on Monday, a day before the traditional yearly voyage of the iconic burnt image of Jesus Christ carrying the cross from the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park to Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene in Quiapo.

Based on the traffic advisory, “the closure of some streets will be in effect as the procession approaches and will be opened immediately once the tail end of the procession passes.”

Ground policies are, likewise, implemented, such as only the authorized personnel are given special access to Katigbak Driveway.

For the Pahalik (kissing of the holy image), there will be access on Kalaw Extension, Hotel H2O and Luneta Park Hotel for authorized vehicles.

Meanwhile, the parade ground is restricted only for personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines until the start of the procession.

Portalets are installed along Roxas Boulevard and Kalaw Extension. Devotees who will camp out along the parade areas are prohibited to bring stoves and black plastic bags.

The route of this year’s parade of the Black Nazarene has been changed a bit. For safety concerns of the expected sea of people joining the parade, the centuries-old religious image will no longer pass the Lagusnilad Bridge fronting the Manila City Hall.

Also helping ease the city’s major thoroughfares from commuters, Mayor Joseph Estrada has suspended classes for all levels in all universities, colleges and schools, as well as work across all departments, offices and bureaus in the city government.

Exempted from the mayor’s Executive Order 01 are those engaged in the maintenance of peace and order, traffic enforcement, disaster and risk reduction management and health and sanitation.

The cancellation of classes and work has been recommended for “public order, safety and convenience and to reduce traffic congestion during the occasion.”

To ensure order and security during the procession, the PNP will deploy snipers who will operate “high tech” drones to monitor the parade.

According to National Capital Region Police Office Director Oscar Albayalde, snipers will be positioned, along with the Special Weapons and Tactics units, on high-rise buildings from January 8 to 10.

More are expected to join the celebration this year. While he sees that 1 million to 2 million people will participate on Tuesday, Father Douglas Badong, a priest at the Quiapo Church, hopes for a shorter procession this year. Around 1.4 million devotees were estimated to have joined the more than 22-hour procession last year.

The statue of the Black Nazarene was carved by an unknown Mexican from a dark wood in the 16th century in Mexico. It was then transported to the Philippines in 1606 by Augustinian priests. Popular belief, however, says that the icon’s dark color was caused by burning from a fire that happened in the galleon carrying it.

After it was housed in various churches near Manila in the early decades, the image finally arrived in Quiapo Church in 1787 where it has been enshrined ever since.

Here is the traffic plan:

January 8, road closures, starting at 10 p.m.:

Katigbak and South Drive (one lane accessible to Manila Hotel and Hotel H20);
Northbound lane of Quezon and MacArthur Bridge from Bonifacio Shrine onward; and
Taft Avenue from Ayala Boulevard to Bonifacio Shrine.
Rerouting scheme:

Light vehicles intending to use the stretch of Bonifacio Drive and Roxas Boulevard southbound shall turn to Anda Circle going to A. Soriano Avenue, turn right to General Luna Street to Burgos-Orosa Street, then turn left to T.M. Kalaw Street to Taft Avenue to destination.

Trucks and other heavy vehicles intending to use the stretch of Bonifacio Drive southbound shall turn around Anda Circle going back to northbound lane of Road 10 to C3 to destination.

Vehicles coming from the southern part of Manila intending to take the northbound lane of Roxas Boulevard from T.M. Kalaw to P. Burgos Streets shall turn right to T.M. Kalaw Street, left to Orosa Street going to Intramuros, left to A. Soriano Avenue to destination.

Vehicles plying P. Burgos Street shall turn right to Finance Road to Ayala Avenue to destination.

Vehicles using Taft Avenue northbound shall turn right to Ayala Boulevard to destination.

January 9, road closures, starting 12 m.n. for the procession of the image of the Black Nazarene set for 6 a.m.:

  • Stretch of MacArthur, Jones and Quezon Bridges;
  • Roxas Boulevard from Katigbak Drive to T.M. Kalaw Street; and
  • Both lanes of Quezon Boulevard (Quiapo) from A. Mendoza/Fugoso Street and España Avenue/P. Campa for southbound and from Taft Avenue/Ayala Boulevard for northbound.

Rerouting scheme:

Vehicles coming from Quezon City using the stretch of España Avenue shall turn right to P. Campa Street then turn left to A. Mendoza Street, then turn right to Fugoso Street, turn right to C.M. Recto Avenue or left to Nicanor Reyes Street, turn right to C.M. Recto Avenue to destination.

Vehicles coming from Legarda Street shall turn right to C.M. Recto Avenue or turn left to Mendiola Street to destination.

Vehicles coming from Caloocan City plying Rizal Avenue shall turn right to Fugoso Street or C.M. Recto Avenue to destination.

Heavy vehicles/cargo trucks shall take President Osmeña to President Quirino Avenue to Nagtahan Bridge via A.H. Lacson Avenue to Capulong Street (vice versa).

All buses using Taft Avenue northbound shall turn right to Ayala Avenue to destination.

Vehicles coming from Reina Regente Street using southbound lane shall turn right to San Fernando Street or make a U-turn at Plaza Ruiz to destination.

Light vehicles intending to take the stretch of Bonifacio Drive and Roxas Boulevard southbound shall turn around to Anda Circle going to Delpan or Moriones to destination.

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