NCRPO adopts new security plan for Nazarene procession

NCRPO acting chief, Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas said that they will adopt the security plan for the Sinulog Festival that is celebrated annually on the third Sunday of January in honor of Cebu’s patron saint, the Sto. Niño. (File Photo: PIO NCRPO/Facebook)

MANILA — The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will implement a new security scheme for the Black Nazarene thanksgiving procession on Monday (Dec. 30) in order to shorten the duration of the religious activity.

NCRPO acting chief, Brig. Gen. Debold Sinas said that they will adopt the security plan for the Sinulog Festival that is celebrated annually on the third Sunday of January in honor of Cebu’s patron saint, the Sto. Niño.

He said the new plan will address the overcrowded procession route of the Black Nazarene that was decided upon during their meeting with activity organizers on Saturday.

Sinas said the new security scheme for the thanksgiving procession will shorten the activity, which would help them meet the target turnaround time of six hours instead of 10 hours.

“The longer the time that we consume in the procession, the more it is susceptible to crime, susceptible to threats,” he said.

Based on Sinas’ presentation, a patrol car will be leading the procession followed by Sinas and his district directors.

He said police officers will be around the Black Nazarene while devotees will be situated at the back of the procession.

Sinas said the priests also requested to join the procession with this kind of security plan.

He said it was not only the Manila Police District (MPD) but all district directors who committed to provide security to the procession participants as part of the plan of the NCRPO. They agreed to support the new scheme physically, mentally, morally and financially, he added.

The five districts covered by the NCRPO are the MPD, Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Northern Police District (NPD), Southern Police District (SPD), and Eastern Police District (EPD).

“We want to be there to assure the public that the police are ready and we are in the ground. To give you assurance that the security plan is in effect because the whole leadership of NCRPO is there,” Sinas said.

He said that NCRPO will commit enough forces to support the Philippine National Police (PNP) in securing the religious event where a huge influx of devotees is expected.

Sinas said if the enhanced security approach for the thanksgiving procession will prove to be successful, the same will be implemented for the “Traslacion” or the transfer of the revered image of the Black Nazarene from Quirino Grandstand to Quiapo Church in Manila on January 9.

“If it will not work, then we will go back to the old (scheme),” he said.

Meanwhile, the MPD-Traffic Enforcement Unit advised motorists to take alternate routes on Monday due to the closure of some roads in Manila and the implementation of a traffic rerouting plan for the Black Nazarene Thanksgiving Procession.

The annual Black Nazarene procession will be taking this route:

Plaza Miranda, left to Quezon Boulevard; right to CM Recto Avenue; right to Loyola Street; right to Bilibid Viejo Street; left to Gil Puyat Street; left to Z. F. de Guzman Street (Mendoza St.); right to R. Hidalgo Street; left to Quezon Boulevard through under Quezon Bridge, through Palanca Street; right to Villalobos Street; onward to Plaza Miranda.

The following roads will be closed at 8:30 p.m. on Monday to give way to the procession that will start at 11:30 p.m.:

— Southbound lane of Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo from A. Mendoza/Fugoso to Plaza Miranda
-España/P. Campa (Lerma)

— Eastbound lane of C.M. Recto from Rizal Avenue to SH Loyola Street

Motorists are advised to take these alternate routes instead:

— Vehicles coming from Quezon City using southbound lane of Espana Avenue should turn right to P. Campa Street then turn left to A. Mendoza Street, right to Fugoso Street, then turn left to Rizal Avenue to point of destination.

— All vehicles intending to use Quezon Boulevard coming from A. Mendoza Street should turn right to Fugoso, left to Rizal Avenue to point of destination.

— All vehicles using eastbound lane of C. M. Recto coming from Divisoria should turn left to Rizal Avenue to point of destination.