Traslacion this year was projected to exceed the National Capital Region Police Office’s (NCRPO) 15-hour goal, the agency said on Friday evening.

Speaking to DZRH at around 7:30 p.m., NCRPO Spokesperson PMaj. Hazel Asilo said she had believed the procession would take more than 15 hours, based on earlier observations.

“‘Yung atin pong tinaya na nakaraan, ‘yun atin pong goal na 15 hours ay talaga pong hindi na natin mame-meet, based na rin po sa ating naging observation. So sana naman po hindi naman po tayo umabot sa oras na itinagal gaya noong nakaraang taon,” she said.

Despite being close to Quiapo Church, the carriage bearing the image of Jesus Nazarene was set on a route that looped around the area. Moreover, the narrow streets contribute to the slow passage of the image and the thick crowd, the spokesperson said.

“Kung tutuusin po medyo malapit na po ‘yan, kaya lang may mga areas pa po tayong dadaanan. May mga masisikip din po kasi tayong dadaanan pa, kaya maaari pong mag-contribute ito sa pagbagal ng usad,” Asilo explained.

She hoped the Traslacion would not extend past midnight for the devotees’ safety, noting that the longer it continues, the more medical emergencies could occur.

As of 11:35 p.m., the image is on Duque de Alba Street.