Washington getting ready for the transfer of power

BABE'S EYE VIEW FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.

- AMBASSADOR B. ROMUALDEZ

On January 20th next year, Donald J. Trump will be sworn in at the West Lawn of the US Capitol as the 47th president of the United States.

Thousands of visitors are expected to come to Washington, DC to take part in this historic event in one way or another – with the National Mall teeming with spectators and thousands lining up along Pennsylvania Avenue to watch the president's entourage make their way to the White House during the ceremonial parade.

As early as October, luxury hotels in Washington were already getting fully booked, with reservations blocked out from Jan. 14 to 21 and room rates increasing by as much as 1,000 percent. According to Destination DC, a non-profit corporation that supports the travel and tourism sector, bookings for the inauguration weekend are now at 50 percent and expected to go higher as Jan. 20 comes closer, since hotel occupancy rates usually surpass 90 percent during inaugurations.

A complete list on road closures will be issued by the DC Metropolitan Police Department a day before the inauguration, but definitely, streets around the inauguration area and the ceremonial parade will be closed throughout the day for security purposes.

Because the inauguration is considered a "National Special Security Event" with US political leaders and foreign dignitaries in attendance, security plans are very stringent, with the US Secret Service as the lead federal agency with support from other entities that include the US Capitol Police, the Metropolitan Police Department and the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (composed of service members from all branches of the US Armed Forces, including Reserve and National Guard components).