PALO, LEYTE, Philippines – At least 160,000 people-including the 78,000 selected parishioners from the different parishes all over Eastern Visayas-will be provided each with identification cards by the Archdiocese of Palo as their security passes to attend the Papal Mass at the Tacloban City Airport on January 17 next year.
In a news conference on Monday, Father Amadeo Alvero, archdiocese's social communications director, said 120,000 of the expected total number of people who will welcome Pope Francis and attend the Mass will occupy the cemented ground of the airport while the rest will be accommodated at the grassy area of the venue.
"We would like to emphasize this to the public that we also inviting people from other denominations; maybe they could occupy the apron part of the airport," he said.
Alvero told reporters that part of the security preparations of the Catholic officials here, in coordination with the local security forces, is the designation of at least 40,000 people who will stand as human barricade along the national road along the motorcade route of Pope Francis, from the Tacloban airport to the Palo Cathedral.
After the Mass, the pope is slated to bless the newly rehabilitated cathedral in Palo, and then have lunch with 30 pre-selected survivors of Yolanda and victims of the 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Bohol.
"This is also to prevent possible stampede, considering that hundreds of thousands who will join in welcoming the pope are expected to result in massive traffic jams," said Alvero.
Alvero further announced that part of the protocol during the Mass is that lay ministers, Leyte Governor Dominic Petilla, Palo town Mayor Remedios Petilla and Tacloban City Mayor Alfred Romualdez will occupy the front area near the pope.
Archbishop John Du will be releasing at least P1 million to the different parishes to defray their expenses in transportation and food for parishioners, identified as their delegates for the visit of Pope Francis.