By John Noel E. Herrera
The Local Government Unit (LGU) of Jordan in Guimaras province will implement temporary road closure on identified areas in the town during the comeback of the island’s famous Holy Week tradition, “Pagtaltal sa Bala-an Bukid” on Good Friday, April 7, 2023.
On Tuesday, April 4, Jordan LGU issued Executive Order No. 2023-053, which mandated the “total and partial closure of identified road segments within the barangays of Poblacion, Rizal and Hoskyn due to the Ang Pagtaltal sa Bala-an Bukid 2023.”
In an area map posted by Jordan LGU on its Facebook page, it identified three main portions, classified as red line, yellow line, and blue line, where road closures will be implemented.
The red line indicates a total road closure from the Smallest Plaza to the front of the Jordan Municipal Grounds, from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm for the opening program and the start of “Pagtaltal”, while the right side of the national road towards San Miguel will be open during the street drama.
Total road closure would also be implemented from the Jordan Municipal Grounds towards Crossing Tico for the travel time of the street drama going to Hoskyn, Jordan, as indicated on the yellow line portion of the map.
“For blue line, there will be total road closure from Crossing Tico to Sitio Lagbas, Hoskyn, Jordan from 2:00 p.m. onwards to give way to the street drama towards the Crucifixion Site at the Bala-an Bukid Shrine,” Jordan LGU added in an advisory.
The identified roads will only be opened once the street drama “is on its way to the Bala-an Bukid,” according to Jordan LGU.
In a separate advisory, Jordan LGU also noted that the Bala-an Bukid Cross and the Pook Area in Bala-an Bukid will be closed to the public due to safety reasons.
Jordan LGU cited the absence of hand railings in dangerous areas of the trail; the slippery path of the trail; and the abundance of dried leaves, especially along the proximity of the Stations of the Cross, which can be considered a fire hazard as the primary reasons for the closure of the Pook Area.
Meanwhile, the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)-6 has granted the request of Jordan LGU for the extension of day and night time trips of the operators plying the route from Jordan Wharf, Jordan Guimaras to Parola Wharf, Iloilo City and vice versa on April 7, 2023.
MARINA noted that operators may start their operations from 4:00 a.m. and extend their trips until 11:00 p.m. “to cater the influx of tourists and guests of the Pagtaltal sa Bala-an Bukod event.”
“Pagtaltal sa Balaan Bukid” is considered one of the famous Lenten activities in Guimaras that showcases the Guimarasnons’ interpretation of the passion and death of Christ.
The activity has already evolved into a tourism-cultural attraction as thousands of devotees visit the island every year to witness and experience the event.
