MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) has placed all hospitals in Manila under Code White alert for possible medical emergencies arising from the Feast of the Black Nazarene on Tuesday.

“We are also coordinating with other government and private hospitals so they will also be ready to respond,” DOH Director for Health Emergency Management Service Gloria Balboa said yesterday.

Balboa said medical teams from its various hospitals in Metro Manila will also be dispatched along the route of the Traslacion (procession) to assist the estimated 18 to 20 million devotees participating in the event.

“Fourteen medical teams will be deployed and each team will be composed of at least two doctors, three nurses and a driver. There will be first aid stations that will be set up along the route,” she said.  

Medical volunteers and personnel from the Philippine National Red Cross and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will also be available for first aid, officials said.

Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle said he is praying that no casualty or injury would befall any of the millions of devotees on Tuesday.

“We are praying that during the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene, everyone would be free from harm. Let us all pray for an orderly and clean Traslacion,” Tagle said.

Quiapo Church parish priest Monsignor Hernando Coronel called on the sick, the elderly and young children not to participate in the Traslacion.

Coronel assured them they are included in the prayer intentions for the Feast of the Black Nazarene, along with the other devotees who would not get the chance to hold on the rope of the andas (carriage) that would carry the image of the Black Nazarene. 

“Those with pre-existing heart condition, we discourage them from taking part. Let us just include them in the mass intentions,” he added.

Authorities also appealed to the devotees to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity that may disrupt the annual event.

Officials estimated that 18.9 million devotees would join the Black Nazarene activities from Dec. 31 until Jan. 9.

At least 5,613 uniformed police officers will be deployed for the procession, augmented by troops from the military under Brig. Gen. Alan Arrojado, commander of the Armed Forces of the Philippines-Joint Task Force National Capital Region.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Manila Police District (MPD) would be implementing a “no fly zone” in the area above Quiapo district and the route of the procession.

Police said unauthorized use of drones will also be prohibited, except for media coverage, provided they have a permit and authorization from the Traslacion 2018 executive committee.

The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will impose a “no sail zone” behind the Quirino Grandstand in Rizal Park where the image would be on public viewing from Jan. 8 until the morning of Jan. 9.

The Manila City government has installed more than 200 CCTV cameras to monitor the 10-kilometer route of the Traslacion.

The city government would implement a gun ban starting midnight of Jan. 8 until midnight of Jan. 10. During the 48-hour period, all permits to carry firearms would be suspended.

The city government has also ordered a 48-hour liquor ban from midnight of Jan. 8 to midnight of Jan. 10.

Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada has ordered the suspension of classes in all levels and city government work on Jan. 9.

City administrator Ericson Alcovendaz added personnel of vital services would be reporting for duty on that day.

Estrada said the suspension or work in national government offices in Manila would be left to the decision of their respective heads.

In a separate announcement, the Supreme Court ordered suspension of work in all courts in Manila on Jan. 9.

The SC’s public information office said work in the high court, Court of Appeals and trial courts in Manila will be suspended due to “difficulty of travel to and from the courts located in the city of Manila due to the annual procession of the Black Nazarene.”

Environment groups, on the other hand, called on devotees to avoid littering along the procession route.

The EcoWaste Coalition, Buklod Tao and the Green Brigade Committee of the Quiapo Church reminded devotees that Manila, the center of the mammoth event, is already generating garbage at 1,152 tons per day as estimated by the MMDA.

“Religious festivities should not exacerbate Manila’s garbage situation,” the groups stressed.

The groups requested the Manila City government to strictly implement anti-littering ordinances and compliance with Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. – With Evelyn Macairan, Jose Rodel Clapano, Rhodina Villanueva, Gerry Lee-Gorit