THE Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team) advised commuters and motorists to leave their homes early in order to avoid getting stuck in traffic during the Traslacion of the Image of the Holy Child on Friday, January 17, 2020.
The whole stretch of A.S. Fortuna Street in Mandaue City will be closed from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. on Friday to make way for the Traslacion, said Team traffic monitoring officer Arnold Malig-on.
When the vehicle carrying the Holy Image arrives at the intersection of Highway Seno in Barangay Maguikay, motorists will temporarily not be allowed to cross the whole stretch of A. del Rosario Street.
From 6 a.m. until midnight, roads leading towards the National Shrine of Saint Joseph, particularly S.B. Cabahug Street, corner P.Gomez Street and A. del Rosario Street, will be closed to motorists to make way for the “Hawok” or kissing of the image of Señor Sto. Niño and Birhen sa Guadalupe after the Traslacion.
A welcome mass will be held at the National Shrine of Saint Joseph at 11 a.m. or after the Traslacion, said Monsignor Antonio Medida, the church’s parish priest.
Even after the Traslacion, Medida said they will still hold regular scheduled masses but the “Pahawok” will not be interrupted.
Medida added that in order for devotees to not disrupt regular masses, they will put up a lane outside the church for the “Pahawok.”
The entrance for churchgoers that will attend masses will take the main door of the church and will exit at the left side doors.
For the devotees, they can enter and exit the church through the right side where lanes and tents are provided.
Architect Florentino Nimor Jr., the head of Team, said they have provided designated parking areas for the churchgoers, particularly situated around the church.
These designated parking areas are located along S.B. Cabahug Street near Suson Lumber; the other one is on S.B. Cabahug Street at the lane along the corner of P. Gomez Street; and on B. Ceniza Street or beside the Mandaue City Public Market along Colonnade Supermarket. (KFD)