Security tight for today's Traslacion

An official of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) yesterday said they have put in place tight security measures for the feast of the Black Nazarene today, January 9.

Cocpo spokesperson Chief Inspector Mardy Hortillosa II said state security forces have been deployed since the past weekend.

A number of policemen were installed at the St. Augustine Cathedral where the replica of the Black Nazarene will be transferred Monday night for the vigil until today’s 5 am procession.

Hortillosa said devotees who wish to enter the Cathedral or Gaston Park will have to pass through strict security inspections.

During the traslacion, Hortillosa advised all of the faithful to bring identification cards as well as make sure

to have with them medical information and emergency contact numbers.

They should wear comfortable clothing and bring something to eat and drink.

Authorities also urged those who will participate in the procession to report all suspicious activity to the police.

On the other hand, devotees are discouraged to bring backpacks, ball caps and sunglasses as they are subject for inspection and confiscation.

Bringing alcoholic beverages, playing cards or deadly weapons are also prohibited.

Wearing of expensive jewelries are also discouraged to avoid theft.

Bringing along children, pregnant women, elderly, sick and differently able person are also discouraged.

Littering and wearing of slippers are also not allowed. Hortillosa said devotees should instead wear shoes for safety reasons.

Vendors are not allowed and wearing of jacket with hood and bringing canned drinks and water container which are not transparent are also prohibited.

Parking is not allowed in the procession route and venue of the activity while liquor is ban within 300 meter radius of the procession route.

Flying of unauthorized drones is not allowed.

Meanwhile, some 24 major roads in the city will be closed starting 4 in the morning today, while a strict warning for ambulant vendors has been issued to facilitate for the smooth procession of the Black Nazarene, which passes from the St. Augustine Cathedral to the Nazareno Church.

With this, the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) issued a special traffic scheme which was implemented since January 7.

The roads which shall be temporarily closed to vehicular traffic include Velez street, Recto Avenue, Corrales Avenue, Fernandez St., San Agustin St, Gaerlan, Hayes, T. Chaves St., RN Abejuela, Tirso Neri St., Cruz Taal St., Gomez, J.R. Borja, Pacana, Yacapin, Mabini, Montalvan, Kolambaguhan, Makahambus, Akut, Del Pilar, Luna, Echem, and Nacalaban streets.

The southern lanes of Recto Avenue will also be a one-way traffic from the flyover to Osmena street, today.

Meanwhile, eastbound light vehicles traversing from Marcos Bridge shall proceed to the flyover down to the southern lanes, while westbound vehicles may pass Gusa national highway through the coastal road. Northbound vehicles from Cogon market and Plaza Divisoria areas may pass along Osmena St., or via J.R Borja extenstion to the coastal road.

The traffic advisory said the closed streets will immediately be opened for the normal flow of traffic once the tail of the procession has passed.

Vendors of any kind of items are prohibited to display their goods in front of the Nazareno Church and the St. Augustine Cathedral, including at the procession routes.

An estimated 200,000 devotees are expected to join the celebration of the feast of Black Nazarene, while a sufficient number of policemen will be in the area to guarantee the safety and security of the public.

The city government has earlier imposed a liquor ban within 300-meter radius from the route of the traslacion of the image of the Black Nazarene from 5 p.m. of January 8 to 12 noon of January 9 for a peaceful traslacion.