The Manila Police District (MPD) will implement road closures and a traffic rerouting scheme for the annual procession of the Black Nazarene on Thursday. According to the MPD-Traffic Enforcement Unit, the following roads will be closed to give way to the Traslacion 2020:
• Independence Road near the Quirino Grandstand
• Southbound lane of Bonifacio Drive from Anda Circle to Katigbak Drive
• North and southbound lanes of Roxas Boulevard from Katigbak Lane to UN Avenue
• P. Burgos from Roxas Boulevard up to Jones Bridge, Quezon Bridge, and MacArthur Bridge
• North and southbound lanes of Ma. Orosa from TM Kalaw to P. Burgos (starting 9 p.m. on Jan. 8)
• North and southbound lanes of Taft Avenue from TM Kalaw to Ayala Blvd
• San Marcelino from NA Lopez Street up to UN Ave
• Romualdez from UN Avenue up to NA Lopez Street
• P. Casal from Carlos Palanca up to San Rafael
• Carlos Palanca Street from Plaza Lacson up to Quiapo Ilalim
• Southbound lane of Quezon Blvd. from Fugoso up to Quezon Bridge
• Westbound lane of España Blvd. from P. Campa to Lerma Street.
Meanwhile, Taft Avenue from Ayala Boulevard leading to the Jones, Quezon, and MacArthur Bridges will be closed at exactly 12:01 a.m. on Thursday.
According to church organizers, the Traslacion will follow the routes below:
Quirino Grandstand, Katigbak Road, Finance Road through Ayala Boulevard, Ayala Bridge, Palanca Street, Quezon Boulevard, Arlegui Street, Fraternal Street, Vergara Street, Duque de Alba Street, Castillejos Street, Farnecio Street, Arlegui Street, Nepomuceno Street, Concepcion Aguila Street, Carcer Street, Hidalgo through Plaza del Carmen, Bilibid Viejo thru Gil Puyat, JP de Guzman Street, Hidalgo Street, Arlegui Street, Quezon Boulevard, Palanca Street, and finally Villalobos through Plaza Miranda.
In a report by The STAR, MPD director Brig. Gen. Bernabe Balba said they have intensified clearing operations to rid the procession’s route of vendors and illegally parked vehicles.
“We have been clearing the streets of Manila, as per order of Mayor Isko since last year, but we are more focused now on the streets where the Traslacion will pass on Jan. 9,” Balba said.
Around 1.3 million devotees joined the 21-hour procession last year. – Rey Galupo