MANILA, Philippines - The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has so far accumulated 17 truckloads of garbage left behind in the procession of the Black Nazarene image on Thursday.
In a phone-patch interview on ANC, MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the agency's clearing group at the rear-end of the procession and collected the trash and debris.
He added that areas starting from the Quirino Grandstand are now open to traffic as the procession continues to move farther.
Tolentino also observed that the procession this year seems to be faster since the "Pahalik" (kissing) of the Black Nazarene image has been done a day earlier.
"That probably lessened the number of devotees coming from the provinces," Tolentino said.
The MMDA chief added that about 300 minor injuries have also been reported in the procession.