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Traffic officers in Manilla forced to wear nappies for Pope's visit Traffic officers in Manila forced to wear nappies for Pope's visit
(about 12 hours later)
Traffic officers in the Phillipines’ capital, Manilla, were made to wear adult-sized nappies after fears that the stewarding for the visit of the Pope Francis would be jeopardised by the city’s lack of portable toilets. Traffic officers in the Philippines’ capital, Manila, were made to wear adult-sized nappies after fears that the stewarding for the visit of the Pope Francis would be jeopardised by the city’s lack of portable toilets.
In videos taken during the Pope’s visit on Sunday, hundreds of traffic officers were seen on duty barelegged and clad in the nappies, while wearing regular police attire on the top halves of their bodies.In videos taken during the Pope’s visit on Sunday, hundreds of traffic officers were seen on duty barelegged and clad in the nappies, while wearing regular police attire on the top halves of their bodies.
The decision came on 6 January, when the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority announced that 2,000 of Manilla’s traffic enforcers would be made to wear the nappies after officials believed that the lack of portable toilet facilities at the event might hinder the traffic officers’ ability to steward the massive crowds expected for the pontiff’s visit. Many of the city’s officers had to work overtime during the 24-hour event and officials said that the time spent having to search and queue for a toilet might stop them from carrying out their work and jeopardise the safety of the crowds. The decision came on 6 January, when the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority announced that 2,000 of Manila’s traffic enforcers would be made to wear the nappies after officials believed that the lack of portable toilet facilities at the event might hinder the traffic officers’ ability to steward the massive crowds expected for the pontiff’s visit. Many of the city’s officers had to work overtime during the 24-hour event and officials said that the time spent having to search and queue for a toilet might stop them from carrying out their work and jeopardise the safety of the crowds.
Speaking on 7 January, Francis Tolentino, Chairman of the MMDA said: “If you attend an event that will last for 24 hours, you cannot go around looking for a (portable lavatory).”Speaking on 7 January, Francis Tolentino, Chairman of the MMDA said: “If you attend an event that will last for 24 hours, you cannot go around looking for a (portable lavatory).”
Tolentino also advised other visitors to consider wearing the nappies, including priests, nuns and the elderly.Tolentino also advised other visitors to consider wearing the nappies, including priests, nuns and the elderly.
It was estimated that nearly 6million people braved terrible weather conditions for a chance to see Pope Francis in the first visit by a Pope to Asia’s most Roman Catholic nation since 1995.It was estimated that nearly 6million people braved terrible weather conditions for a chance to see Pope Francis in the first visit by a Pope to Asia’s most Roman Catholic nation since 1995.
In the former Spanish colony, 80 per cent of the country’s 100 million people follow the Roman Catholic faith.In the former Spanish colony, 80 per cent of the country’s 100 million people follow the Roman Catholic faith.
The visit to Manilla was the final stage of the Pope’s Asian tour that saw him visit Sri Lanka three days last week. The visit to Manila was the final stage of the Pope’s Asian tour that saw him visit Sri Lanka three days last week.
Pope Francis spent the last four days in the Phillipines’, visiting the country’s largest cities, as well as the areas worst hit by the Typhoon Haiyan that devastated large parts of the country in 2013. Pope Francis spent the last four days in the Philippines’, visiting the country’s largest cities, as well as the areas worst hit by the Typhoon Haiyan that devastated large parts of the country in 2013.