Checkpoints set up in Regions 3, 4A to bar Traslacion devotees
INTERIOR Secretary Eduardo Año yesterday said that checkpoints will be placed in Region 4-A and Region 3 borders to prevent devotees from proceeding to Quiapo, Manila for the traditional Traslacion,
The Manila government has suspended the Black Nazarene activities this year due to the surge of COVID-19 cases in the capital region.
According to Año, even if the traditional religious parade is suspended this year, there are still devotees who are persistent in attending what they called as “yearly panata.”
The measure, he pointed out, was initiated to warn the public that face-to-face activities in the Traslacion are not allowed at this time.
The DILG chief said that normally, about eight to 12 million devotees attend the yearly religious parade of the Black Nazarene, which he believed this time could be understood by the faithful.
Año described the COVID-19 as “tsunami” and not a surge.
He said that the Quiapo Church leadership has agreed with the government’s request to put off the Black Nazarene procession and other Traslacion related mass gathering, owing to the COVID-19 Omicron variant, which has seeped in the country’s territory.
“S’yempre, katulong din natin ‘yung (Quiapo) church dito. S’yempre ano na pagpapaliwag sa mga tao na bakit hindi tayo pupwedeng mag-observe or payagan na i-conduct ‘yung traditional na prusisyon at pahalik,” Año said.
