AS Cagayan de Oro City’s faithful prepare for the Jan. 9 Traslacion or Black Nazarene procession, Mayor Rolando ‘Klarex’ Uy called on those who are sick to recover at home and pray instead in order to avoid infecting others.

“Along with the City Health Office, I am asking the Kagay-anons who aren’t feeling well to remain at home and recover so they cannot infect the thousands who I expect will attend the procession. (Remember there’s still the Covid-19 pandemic) and I ask those who will attend to comply with health protocols,” Mayor Uy said in Visayan.

During his Friday radio program, Mayor Uy also confirmed that he met with Msgr. Perseus Cabunoc, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro early this week.

“We met and discussed the Black Nazarene procession. We agreed that security is essential and I’m thankful to him for their support. I also call on the public (to support our efforts),” Mayor Uy said in Visayan.

A church crowd starts to line up for the traditional “Pahalik” on the replica of the Black Nazarene icon at the Nazareno Church here after the annual Traslacion procession. File photo by Ben Balce

A press briefing has been scheduled today, days ahead of the Black Nazarene procession which begins with a 4 am Mass at the St. Augustine Metropolitan Cathedral. The night before or at 9 pm on Sunday, the centuries-old image of the Black Nazarene will be transferred to the cathedral followed by a vigil an hour later lasting until 4 am.

“I ordered the Roads and Traffic Administration, the (City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Department) and the city police to beef up their preparations on traffic, emergency response, and security respectively. I also got word from the National Telecommunications Commission about the ‘signal jamming’ (because of the event),” Mayor Uy said in Visayan.

The Cagayan de Oro City Police Office also issued an advisory reminding the faithful not to wear sunglasses or carry backpacks for the duration of the event.

The faithful were also reminded not to carry jewelry or large amounts of cash and belongings as well as not to bring children.

Both the city police and CHO also urged the public to comply with minimum public health protocols. (Stephen Capillas of City Information Office)