Traslacion 2026: NCRPO hopes to cut procession time to 10-12 hours

The National Capital Regional Police Office (NCRPO) said Sunday that they hope to cut procession of the 2026 Traslacion during the annual feast of Jesus Nazareno in Manila to around 10 to 12 hours from last year's which was over 20 hours.

In an interview on Super Radyo dzBB, Police Major Hazel Asilo, NCRPO-Public Information Office (NCRPO-PIO) chief said their preparations are primarily focused on maintaining peace and security while hoping their efforts would shorten the procession of the image of the Jesus Nazareno from the Quirino Grandstand to the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Jesus Nazareno or Quiapo Church.

Asilo said they are planning to trim last year’s procession that took 20 hours and 45 minutes  to 10 to 12 hours this year.

“‘Yung goal natin na mas mabilis natin maipasok. From 20 hours noong nakaraang taon. Ang goal natin ngayon is kalahatian natin kahit from 10 to 12 hours man lamang,” she said.

(Our goal is for the image to return much faster. From the 20 hours of last year, our goal now is to halve the time to around 10 to 12 hours.) 

Asilo said the NCRPO will deploy the same security preparations since the procession route is similar to the one taken in 2025 but police response will depend on the given situation on the day itself which is on January 9, a Friday.

“Magdedepende talaga sa sitwasyon kung anong gagawin ng ating mga kapulisan ganoon din ang mga hijos at iba pa nating kasama kung paano natin mas mabilis na mapapaaandar at maipasok ng simbahan ang andas,” she explained.

(The police reaction really depend on the situation and the hijos and other participants as to how fast they can move the carriage [known as the andas] and bring back the image inside the church.)

Police personnel, of which 15,000 will be assigned to the annual event, have been conducting regular walkthroughs as part of its preparations.   

The NCRPO official said they have not received information of threats against the event but are currently on heightened alert as a precaution. — RF, GMA Integrated News