To ease traffic during the expected influx of devotees this Holy Week, the local government of Manaoag will enforce a temporary truck ban in the town center from April 16 to 20, 2025.

Thousands are expected to visit the Minor Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary of Manaoag, one of the most popular pilgrimage sites in the country.

Only public utility buses will be allowed to pass through designated loading and unloading areas. All 10-wheeler trucks and larger vehicles will be rerouted.

“‘Yung manggagaling sa bayan ng Laoac at Pozorrubio, dito po sa may coastal road, diversion road po ‘yan, papasok po sila doon, lalabas sila sa Brgy. Liksi, then going to Mapandan. Pupunta ng Sta. Barbara, Calasiao, Dagupan, puwede po silang dumaan d’yan sa coastal road,’” Crisanto de Guzman, Traffic Operations Officer of Manaoag, said.

He added that rerouting trucks from San Jacinto is more difficult due to limited alternate routes.

“Ang medyo madugo d’yan, mga truck na manggagaling sa San Jacinto… doon pa lang sa Brgy. Sta. Maria, kailangan maharang na po ‘yung malalaking truck para i-divert sila papuntang Mangaldan,” he added.

To support the traffic plan, parking areas have been designated near the church.

“May mga tao po talagang matigas ang ulo na sinasamantala din talaga ang presensya ng ating mga bisita. Nakikiusap po kami sa lahat ng may-ari ng parking lots… pakikiusap po, maging makatao po tayo sa ating mga bisita,” said Brendon Natividad, Tourism Officer of Manaoag.

Government agencies and force multipliers will be deployed to help guide and ensure the safety of the expected half a million pilgrims.