Bacolod City – The Provincial Disaster Management Program Division (PDMPD) is presently on “blue alert” status in Negros Occidental, with the observance of Holy Week starting today April 6 to Monday, April 10.
Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson, in his issued memorandum, said he expects a large number of people to converge in churches and beaches in those days.
Blue alert means continuous monitoring and preparedness measures are heightened by PDMPD.
Irene Bel Plotena, PDMPD Focal Person, said that they are on standby and ready for deployment, especially during Holy Thursday (April 6), Good Friday (April 7) and Easter Sunday on April 9.
It will be long vacation for those working in private and government offices, starting noon of April 5 until April 10, which has been declared as a nonworking holiday by Malacañang.
Plotena said they have personnel who will render duty in emergency operation centers, on top of members of the Philippine Army, PNP, Philippine Coast Guard, as well as the Bureau of Fire and Protection, who will be placed on standby.
All eyes of the PDMPD will also focus on various tourist destinations, as well as beach and mountain resorts in Negros Occidental.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office and Bacolod City Police Office also implemented its “Oplan Ligtas Sumvac (summer vacation) 2023” campaign, to ensure the safe travel of motorists and commuters this Lenten season and summer months.
To jumpstart the campaign, the PNP has released a set of operational guidelines for police units and stations that aims to provide a safe and peaceful environment for people who will travel to their respective provinces or tourist destinations to observe Holy Week and celebrate local fiestas and other significant events.
It will also intensify checkpoint operations to ensure the safety and security of all commuters.
All police provincial and city police offices were also directed to conduct regular inspections and mobile patrols to ensure maximum police presence in crowded places such as bus terminals, seaports, airports and other transport hubs. (Gilbert Bayoran via The Visayan Daily Star (TVDS), photo courtesy of TVDS)
