Manila Mayor Honey Lacuna-Pangan expressed her gratitude to the national and local government personnel who played a key role in ensuring the peaceful and orderly conduct of this year’s Traslacion.
She extended her thanks to the joint team of the Manila Department of Public Services (DPS) and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), whose swift efforts kept the Burnham Green, Quirino Grandstand area, and the entire procession route clean throughout the event.
Despite some challenges, including isolated scuffles among devotees and a clash between the crowd and police along the Ayala Bridge, the mayor remained optimistic that such incidents could be avoided in future processions.
"The vast majority of the participants were peaceful, but we must learn from the few unfortunate events. I hope that next year, these incidents will not be repeated,” Lacuna-Pangan said.
She lauded the dedication and professionalism of the Manila Police District (MPD), led by its director, Arnold Thomas Ibay, for their steadfastness in managing the crowd, despite the difficulties they faced.
The mayor shared her disappointment over the incident where at least one policeman was injured after devotees broke through police lines on Ayala Bridge.
The devotees were attempting to meet the procession halfway, hoping to get closer to the revered image of the Jesus Nazarene, despite prior reminders.
Meanwhile, the mayor also praised the dedication of the sweepers who worked tirelessly to clean up after the procession route.
Despite the large number of attendees, estimated to be in at least seven million, streets were cleared quickly, leaving Manila pristine once again.
City Engineer Moises Alcantara and his team also joined the cleanup efforts, clearing the Burnham Green area in front of the Quirino Grandstand, which had been filled with trash left behind by the participants.
The mayor highlighted that the "Traslacion 2025" was largely peaceful, with no fatalities, serious injuries, or significant untoward incidents reported.
“Given the scale of the event and the millions of participants, we can consider Traslacion 2025 a success in terms of safety and order,” she said.
The mayor concluded her remarks by thanking all those involved in making the religious event a safe and memorable experience for devotees and the entire city.