Traffic from Traslacion seen today

Seven roads in Mandaue City were scheduled to be closed at 8 a.m. today until the end of the Traslacion, the annual motorcade that transports the images of the Santo Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe from Cebu to Mandaue City.

Glenn Antigua of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team) said the images were expected to arrive in the city at 9 a.m. today but that Team wanted some roads closed an hour early.

These roads are Lopez Jaena St., Basubas St., M.C. Briones St., C.D. Seno St., A. S. Fortuna Ext., A. Del Rosario St. and a portion S.B. Cabahug St.

Unlike the other roads, S.B. Cabahug, particularly in front of National Shrine of Saint Joseph the Worker, was supposed to be closed as early as 4 a.m.

Earlier today, the image of the Santo Niño was set to be reunited with Our Lady of Guadalupe in a penitential Walk with Mary. It was scheduled to start at 4 a.m., followed by the Traslacion mass.

The Traslacion motorcade’s route includes M. J. Cuenco Ave. and Imus Road. It’s in Barangay Subangdaku in Mandaue City where the two images will be turned over to local officials.

From Barangay Subangdaku, the motorcade will then proceed to M.C. Briones St. and turn to A. Del Rosario St. before arriving in Barangay Centro, where the shrine is located.

Antigua said Team will immediately open the roads to vehicles once the images have passed.

Fr. Ric Anthony Reyes, Basilica media liaison officer, told SunStar Cebu that the two images will be heavily secured.

The images will stay in the National Shrine of St. Joseph the Worker until Saturday morning, when these will be returned to Cebu during the traditional fluvial procession.

Team will deploy 100 personnel during the Traslacion and 50 during the foot procession for the fluvial parade early tomorrow, which will begin at Ouano Wharf.

Supt. Jonathan Abella, deputy director for administration of the Mandaue City Police Office, said a total of 701 police and force multipliers, including barangay tanods and volunteers, will secure the Traslacion route and church grounds. /