ADVERTISEMENT
Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Philippine Red Cross to deploy over 1,200 personnel for Nazareno 2026

Philippine Red Cross to deploy over 1,200 personnel for Nazareno 2026

Published Jan 7, 2026 06:51 pm
Philippine Red Cross said its personnel are prepared for the Feast of the Black Nazarene 2026, ensuring the safety and well-being of millions of devotees along the procession route. (Mark Balmores / Manila Bulletin)
Philippine Red Cross said its personnel are prepared for the Feast of the Black Nazarene 2026, ensuring the safety and well-being of millions of devotees along the procession route. (Mark Balmores / Manila Bulletin)
The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) on Wednesday, January 7, said it is gearing up for a full-scale medical and humanitarian operation during the 2026 Feast of the Black Nazarene, deploying more than 1,200 personnel to safeguard the millions of devotees expected to participate in one of the country’s largest religious gatherings.
In a statement, PRC said it will mobilize 1,261 staff and trained volunteers along the procession route, supported by 143 Red Cross volunteers on alert in strategic locations.
To ensure rapid medical response, PRC said 39 ambulances from the National Capital Region (NCR), Southern Luzon, and Central Luzon chapters will be positioned along the route.
Roving medical teams on scooters and foot patrol units will navigate dense crowds, while rescue boats will be prepositioned along the Pasig River to address any water-related emergencies, PRC added.
PRC said a Modular Emergency Medical Unit, featuring a 10-bed emergency room and a 50-bed ward for minor injuries, will be established to provide on-site care and relieve nearby hospitals.
In addition, 17 First Aid Stations and Welfare Desks will operate at key locations, including Quirino Grandstand, Quiapo Church, Roxas Boulevard, Ayala Bridge, and Quezon Boulevard, PRC said.
Moreover, PRC Welfare Services will offer psychological first aid, family tracing, hydration support, and social worker assistance at nearby hospitals.
PRC said a central command post at Kartilya ng Katipunan will coordinate real-time communication among all deployed teams.
Protocols are in place to manage crowd-related incidents, medical emergencies, and patient transport, PRC added.
“The Feast of Jesus Nazarene is a celebration of faith and devotion, but it is also our duty to protect the lives of every devotee,” PRC Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Richard J. Gordon said.
He added that the PRC has been preparing for months with established protocols in case of any untoward incidents. “All our staff and volunteers are committed to giving their very best to ensure a safe and orderly celebration,” he added.
Meanwhile, PRC Secretary General Dr. Gwen Pang urged participants to prioritize health and safety, advising devotees to stay hydrated, wear comfortable clothing and footwear, and seek help immediately if unwell.
PRC also reminded participants to carry identification with emergency contact details and pre-existing medical conditions, set meeting points with their groups, and avoid bringing valuables.
Those who are unwell, pregnant, elderly, or very young are advised to refrain from joining the procession.
For real-time updates, the public may follow the Philippine Red Cross’ official social media channels or contact the nearest PRC chapter. In case of emergencies, call the PRC Hotline 143. 

Related Tags

Philippine Red Cross Feast of the Black Nazarene 2026 PRC medical operations Nazareno procession safety PRC volunteers Manila religious events Traslacion 2026
ADVERTISEMENT
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1561_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1562_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.most-popular .layout-ratio{ padding-bottom: 79.13%; } @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 1024px) { .widget-title { font-size: 15px !important; } }

{{ articles_filter_1563_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}

{{ articles_filter_1564_widget.title }}

{{ item.title }}
.mb-article-details { position: relative; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview, .mb-article-details .article-body-summary{ font-size: 17px; line-height: 30px; font-family: "Libre Caslon Text", serif; color: #000; } .mb-article-details .article-body-preview iframe , .mb-article-details .article-body-summary iframe{ width: 100%; margin: auto; } .read-more-background { background: linear-gradient(180deg, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0) 13.75%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000 / 0.8) 30.79%, color(display-p3 1.000 1.000 1.000) 72.5%); position: absolute; height: 200px; width: 100%; bottom: 0; display: flex; justify-content: center; align-items: center; padding: 0; } .read-more-background a{ color: #000; } .read-more-btn { padding: 17px 45px; font-family: Inter; font-weight: 700; font-size: 18px; line-height: 16px; text-align: center; vertical-align: middle; border: 1px solid black; background-color: white; } .hidden { display: none; }
function initializeAllSwipers() { // Get all hidden inputs with cms_article_id document.querySelectorAll('[id^="cms_article_id_"]').forEach(function (input) { const cmsArticleId = input.value; const articleSelector = '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .body_images'; const swiperElement = document.querySelector(articleSelector); if (swiperElement && !swiperElement.classList.contains('swiper-initialized')) { new Swiper(articleSelector, { loop: true, pagination: false, navigation: { nextEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-next', prevEl: '#article-' + cmsArticleId + ' .swiper-button-prev', }, }); } }); } setTimeout(initializeAllSwipers, 3000); const intersectionObserver = new IntersectionObserver( (entries) => { entries.forEach((entry) => { if (entry.isIntersecting) { const newUrl = entry.target.getAttribute("data-url"); if (newUrl) { history.pushState(null, null, newUrl); let article = entry.target; // Extract metadata const author = article.querySelector('.author-section').textContent.replace('By', '').trim(); const section = article.querySelector('.section-info ').textContent.replace(' ', ' '); const title = article.querySelector('.article-title h1').textContent; // Parse URL for Chartbeat path format const parsedUrl = new URL(newUrl, window.location.origin); const cleanUrl = parsedUrl.host + parsedUrl.pathname; // Update Chartbeat configuration if (typeof window._sf_async_config !== 'undefined') { window._sf_async_config.path = cleanUrl; window._sf_async_config.sections = section; window._sf_async_config.authors = author; } // Track virtual page view with Chartbeat if (typeof pSUPERFLY !== 'undefined' && typeof pSUPERFLY.virtualPage === 'function') { try { pSUPERFLY.virtualPage({ path: cleanUrl, title: title, sections: section, authors: author }); } catch (error) { console.error('ping error', error); } } // Optional: Update document title if (title && title !== document.title) { document.title = title; } } } }); }, { threshold: 0.1 } ); function showArticleBody(button) { const article = button.closest("article"); const summary = article.querySelector(".article-body-summary"); const body = article.querySelector(".article-body-preview"); const readMoreSection = article.querySelector(".read-more-background"); // Hide summary and read-more section summary.style.display = "none"; readMoreSection.style.display = "none"; // Show the full article body body.classList.remove("hidden"); } document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", () => { let loadCount = 0; // Track how many times articles are loaded const offset = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]; // Offset values const currentUrl = window.location.pathname.substring(1); let isLoading = false; // Prevent multiple calls if (!currentUrl) { console.log("Current URL is invalid."); return; } const sentinel = document.getElementById("load-more-sentinel"); if (!sentinel) { console.log("Sentinel element not found."); return; } function isSentinelVisible() { const rect = sentinel.getBoundingClientRect(); return ( rect.top < window.innerHeight && rect.bottom >= 0 ); } function onScroll() { if (isLoading) return; if (isSentinelVisible()) { if (loadCount >= offset.length) { console.log("Maximum load attempts reached."); window.removeEventListener("scroll", onScroll); return; } isLoading = true; const currentOffset = offset[loadCount]; window.loadMoreItems().then(() => { let article = document.querySelector('#widget_1690 > div:nth-last-of-type(2) article'); intersectionObserver.observe(article) loadCount++; }).catch(error => { console.error("Error loading more items:", error); }).finally(() => { isLoading = false; }); } } window.addEventListener("scroll", onScroll); });
Join Our Newsletters

Sign up by email to receive news.

© 2025 Manila Bulletin The Nation's Leading Newspaper. All Rights Reserved.