Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan announced on Thursday, Jan. 4, that a liquor, gun, and firecracker ban will be implemented in Manila for the return of the Traslacion procession on January 9, the Feast of the Black Nazarene.
She said the city government will give further details of the Executive Order once they receive a copy of the document from Malacañang.
Malacañang Palace had earlier issued Proclamation No. 434 declaring Jan. 9 as a special non-working day in Manila to mark the celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene and the traditional practice of the Traslacion procession.
In a Facebook post on Thursday noon, Jan. 4, the Manila Public Information Office uploaded a copy of Proclamation No. 434.
Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin signed the document on Jan. 4.
The proclamation aims to provide the devotees full time to participate in the feast day.
According to Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan, the special non-working holiday proclamation will also help reduce the expected heavy traffic due to the sea of devotees that normally characterize the Traslacion.
It said the city government will soon release the list of roads that will be closed and the alternate routes that motorists may take.
Meanwhile, the Manila Police District (MPD), appealed to the public to cooperate with the rules and guidelines they are imposing for a successful feast day celebration this year.
MPD Chief Col. Arnold Thomas Ibay said around 12,000 elements of the MPD will be deployed to secure the more than 22 million devotees who are expected to join the procession.