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An estimated 10,000 to 15,000 devotees flocked to the Quiapo district early Wednesday for the annual Feast of the Black Nazarene, police said.

The Manila city government has formed Task Force Nazareno, composed of five teams, that will handle the crowd, security and provide medical assistance to the thousands of devotees expected to flock at the heart of the Quiapo district.

Hundreds of devotees started trooping in front of Minor Basilica of the Black Nazarene famously known as the Quiapo church as early as 4 a.m.

Senior Superintendent Leo Quizon, Manila Police District officer-in-charge, said Tuesday that at least 1,000 policemen are deployed around the district. The military's National Capital Region Command will also deploy soldiers to assist Manila policemen in securing the devotees.

The Manila police have also deployed eight mobile cars to areas where the Black Nazarene is expected to visit. Three teams of the Special Weapons and Tactics and two anti-bomb squad teams have also been deployed in Quiapo.

Augmenting the police are 400 crime watch volunteers and four firetrucks. At least 13 medical teams of the police, the Philippine National Red Cross and city-run hospital in Manila and 15 ambulances have also been put on standby to assist casualties during the procession.

To assure a zero-injury feast, the Church and the Manila City government decided to break tradition by assigning 200 Manila policemen to pull out the Black Nazarene out of the basilica. The black image of Jesus Christ will be turned over by the 200 policemen to hundreds of waiting devotees at Villalobos Street. The procession starts at 2 p.m.

Devotees usually throw towels to people handling the image during the procession. Devotees have long believed that touching the Black Nazarene will yield miraculous blessings.

The Black Nazarene has been housed at the Church of the Black Nazarene since 1787. It was brought to Manila by a Spanish priest in 1607 aboard a ship that caught fire. The image was burnt, thus, it came to be known as the Black Nazarene.

The Light Rail Transit announced Wednesday that it will allot additional train rides as devotees are expected to crowd its stations.

The Manila City government will close the southbound lane of Quezon Boulevard for the procession. The northbound lane starting from Plaza Lawton, meanwhile, will remain open.

Other Manila streets and roads that will be closed for the procession are España Avenue, Lerma, P. Campa, Andalucia, Fugoso, Palanca, Estero, Cegado Road, Isetann service road, Legarda, San Rafael, P. Casal, Concepcion, Aguila and Arlegui.

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