DAGUPAN CITY, April 1 (PNA)– More than a million devotees shall have visited the Minor Basilica of Manaoag to renew their devotion with the Lady of Holy Rosary whose ivory image at the back of the altar is the center of adulation on Easter Sunday.
This was the estimate of Chief inspector Edison Revita, chief of police of Manaoag, who admitted that since the local churh was proclaimed as a papal basilica on February 17, more devotees are coming to the basilica daily.
He said that before, the church was being flocked by up to 10,000 devotees daily but now the number has doubled and in fact is expected to triple this Holy Week.
He observed that traffic to and from Manaoag is not yet heavy up to Holy Wednesday as the highways start to be congested beginning Maundy Thursday.
The roads, however, will be more congested by the big number of people walking on foot all the way up to Manaoag to fulfill their vow of sacrifice starting on Good Friday.
Parking is a big problem in view of the big number of vehicles streaming into Manaoag coming from all directions. The police said there is a parking area at the back of the basilica but it is not enough for all vehicles that are bringing devotees.
Thus, the local government of Manaoag headed by Mayor Kim Amador asked property owners around the basilica to accommodate vehicles parking in their premises but were warned not charge too much.
Revita also asked the Philippine Army to open a part of Camp Tito Abat as parking area for vehicles.
Revita said security is tight in Manaoag and this will be maintained until all the devotees shall have returned to their respective homes (PNA)