Grand Lenten Procession Marks Holy Wednesday in Baliwag

Photo via Ang Batingaw/Facebook

The City Government of Baliwag, in coordination with multiple agencies, has fully mobilized traffic and environmental measures for the Holy Wednesday Grand Lenten Procession on April 1, as large numbers of devotees are expected to gather.

Under the leadership of Philippine National Police (P.N.P.) PLTCOL Jayson F. San Pedro as Incident Commander, personnel from the P.N.P., Bureau of Fire Protection (B.F.P.), City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (C.D.R.R.M.O.), Baliwag City Public Order and Safety Office (B.C.P.O.S.O.), Baliwag City Traffic Management Office (B.C.T.M.O.), and force multipliers have been deployed to ensure safety and order throughout the procession.

B.C.T.M.O. Head Arch. Roberto Santos also convened sector commanders to manage traffic flow, particularly along major roads and church areas expected to be crowded with devotees.

Meanwhile, the C.D.R.R.M.O. and Public Assistance and Command Center (P.A.C.C.) continue their 24/7 monitoring operations to maintain safety and order for residents during Holy Week.

As of 3:20 p.m. on April 1, Mayor Sonia Estrella reported that roads surrounding the church were clear, with minimal vehicles and traffic enforcers already stationed in key areas.

At sunset, carozzas and devotees gradually filled the vicinity of the Diocesan Shrine and Parish of San Agustin in preparation for the procession.

A total of 125 carozzas will participate in the Holy Wednesday procession, while 128 carozzas are set to join the Good Friday procession.

The procession will follow the route from the church through Año 1733 St., R.E. Chico St., P. Damaso St., J.P. Rizal St., passing the public market and Plaza Naning, before returning to the church.

A live broadcast of the procession was posted and is available through the official Facebook pages of Mommy Sonia, Ferdie Estrella, Baliwag WebTV, and the Baliwag City Baliwag City Public Information Office (P.I.O.).

Earlier that day, the Baliwag Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) implemented measures to ensure cleanliness and environmental protection along the procession route.

CENRO officers, including Eco-Police, sanitation officers, and monitoring officers, conducted coordinated efforts such as placing trash bins, performing route clean-ups, and maintaining environmental conditions throughout the event.

Authorities reminded participants to follow safety protocols, including refraining from smoking, avoiding littering, properly disposing of waste, securing homes, and not bringing weapons or valuable items.

They also urged the public to maintain silence along the procession route and to remain vigilant against theft and other potential risks.