RTA to close Velez St, other streets during big procession

By NITZ ARANCON
and LITO RULONA
Correspondents . 

THE Roads and Traffic Administration  would temporarily close to vehicular traffic the entire stretch of Don Apolinar Velez Street during the Traslacion procession next week.

RTA chief Nonito Oclarit said a portion of CM Recto Avenue, from the Licoan junction to Osmeña Street, would also be closed to vehicular traffic during the Wednesday procession to mark the feast of the Black Nazarene.

RTA, according to Engr. Oclarit, would be implementing a rerouting scheme that would affect motorists coming from and bound for eastern barangays, including Puntod and Macabalan.

Oclarit said the areas that would be closed to vehicular traffic and the reouting scheme would only last during the Jan. 9 procession.

Officials said the procession would likely last for only two hours or from 5 am to 7 am on Wednesday.

Oclarit said the RTA would also close to vehicular traffic areas around Gaston Park near the St. Augustine Cathedral where religious devotees would wait for the night before the procession.

RTA, he said, would be fielding to the streets over 100 of its personnel during the Traslacion procession.

Senior Supt. Nelson Aganon, city police director, about 700 to 800 officers would be deployed to the city proper as part of the Traslacion security measures.

Aganon said the police is preparing for an estimated crowd of at least 200 thousand to take part in the procession from the cathedral up to the Nazareno Church via Fernandez Street, Don Apolinar Velez Street and CM Recto Avenue in Barangay 26.

Supt. Robert delos Reyes, chief of Cocpo’s operations and planning chief, said the Army’s 4th Infantry Division would beef up the police forces.

Even barangay tanod members would be helping the police, he said.

Delos Reyes said Cocpo has effected a “Level 3” alert in the city even before the deadly bombing in Cotabato City that killed two people and hurt over two dozen others hours before New Year’s Day.

Delos Reyes called on the public, especially those who would participate in the procession, to cooperate.

He said participants are asked not to bring back packs or bags, umbrellas, caps, sharp objects, drones, and bottles.

Delos Reyes said participants are also asked not to wear sunglasses and pieces of jewelry.

Police discourage people with disability, those not feeling well, and children aged 12 years and younger not to join the procession.

Meanwhile, the National Telecommunication Commission is reviewing areas that would be affected by a proposed cellphone signal jam during the Black Nazarene procession.

NTC regional director Ted Buenavista said the plan needs to be reviewed because some cell towers affected have wider signal coverage now.

“Ga-konek-konek naman gud kini karon nga mga cell sites. Kung dili makuha sa usa ka cell site, didto kana mopaingon sa lain nga cell site. Kinahanglan nga i-apil na ang tanan nga peripheral areas. So, ang mahitabo dako ang coverage sa shutdown of cell sites. The public should understand that the main concern is for security purposes,” Buenavista said. 

He said the tower shutdown should be gradual. “Dili gyud ni siya dungan-dunganon. Hinayhinay kini sila and should be well-coordinated. Pero dali ra ang delay ani. It will only take five to 10 minutes only.”

Buenavista said the planned shutdown would require the endorsement of Camp Crame and  approval of the central office of the National Telecommunications Commission.

The NTC, he said, would order the telecommunication companies to implement the temporary shutdown.

“Tan-awon namo ang interes sa public. Communication nowadays is considered as public service. Kung problemado gyud ang security, then wala gyud kami’y mabuhat but to issue the order,” Buenavista said.

Buenavista said the regional NTC office would closely monitor the compliance of the telecommunications companies.

“This will be a closely coordinated effort before and after the shutdown,” he said. “Kining Traslacion mubo ra man kini unlike sa fiesta.”