MALACAÑANG on Saturday assured the public that government is ready to secure millions of devotees who will join the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene procession on January 9.

"It has been done for years in Manila. Our village executive, village officials, and police force are used to Traslacion (Nazarene procession)," Communications Secretary Jose Ruperto Martin Andanar told state-run dzRB, Saturday, January 6.

"Our assurance is our local governments are used to it. Just observe and pray during that day," Martin said.

An estimate of 18.9 million devotees is set to join the hours-long procession that will start at the Quirino Grandstand and will end at the Quiapo Church.

Traslacion, the procession of the image of Black Nazarene, may take almost a day. In 2017, the six-kilometers long procession lasted for 22 hours before the image of the Black Nazarene was returned to Quiapo Church.

On Thursday, January 4, Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada issued Executive Order 1, declaring the suspension of classes and work in city government offices as millions of people are expected to join the annual procession.

The Manila Police District will deploy 5,000 policemen to ensure public's safety during the celebration of Black Nazarene Feast. (SunStar Philippines)