With some 12 million devotees from different walks of life to join the procession, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and various law enforcement agencies will deploy its security personnel and assets for the upcoming Feast of the Black Nazarene on Thursday, January 9, 2014.

PCG Commandant Rear Admiral Rodolfo D. Isorena directed the dispatch of PCG personnel and assets in different points within the route of said procession. Nine (9) CGK9 dogs with handlers will be deployed at vicinity Quirino Grandstand in Luneta Park, three (3) PCG craft will be placed on standby at the back of the Quirino grandstand to serve as platform in case of emergency evacuation together with four (4) rubber boats manned by SOG, one (1) craft under Jones bridge with six (6) rubber boats and two (2) rigid-hulled inflatable boats (RHIB) manned by SOG rescue divers, thirteen (13) CG Medical personnel with ambulance at Quezon bridge.

Also, an additional one hundred (100) PCG marshals will be deployed to man and secure rivers, bridges and harbors in and around the area of the traditional procession.

Said deployment will start at 1:00 PM today during the start of the “Pahalik” while the PCG crafts, SOG teams with rubber boats and RHIBS, PCG marshals and medical teams will be dispatched at 3:00 AM of January 9 during the overnight vigil until the end of the grand procession also known as the “Traslacion”.

The procession of much-venerated statue of Jesus Christ which many Filipinos believe has miraculous attributes towards the Basilica will begin 7 a.m. on January 9 right after the mass at the Quirino Grandstand in Luneta to be presided by Manila Archbishop Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle.