The grand procession of the image of the Black Nazarene will not push through for the second year in a row due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Manila city government announced on Friday.
“Instead, the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene will be done through a motorcade in selected areas of the City of Manila,” the Manila Public Office Information (PIO) said in a statement.
The Manila PIO said the decision was made following the city’s consultations with Fr. Douglas Badong, parochial vicar of the Minor Basilica of Black Nazarene, and other officials of Quiapo Church.
Manila Police District (MPD) Director Gen. Leo Francisco said a minimum of 8,000 police personnel would be deployed during the feast.
This year, the procession of the image of La Naval de Manila and Holy Week religious gatherings were canceled in Metro Manila and surrounding provinces.
More than 94 percent of Metro Manila’s target population have been fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
Traslacion is celebrated every Jan. 9 to commemorate the transfer of the Black Nazarene from San Nicolas de Tolentino Church inside Intramuros to Quiapo Church in 1787. Ma. Alena O. Castillo
