Metro Manila sets security measures for Lent

MANILA, Philippines -- Police and local governments in Metro Manila have set in place measures to ensure a peaceful and orderly observance of Holy Week.

The Eastern Police District (EPD) Wednesday said that security measures are in place to make sure that the observance of Holy Week in the eastern side of Metro Manila will be peaceful and orderly.

Supt. Marner Dasayon, chief of the EPD's District Operations and Plans Division or (D3) said measures aim to ensure the safety and orderly movement of the motorists and commuters heading outside the metropolis for the Lenten season and that homes and properties left behind will be safeguarded.

He said as part of the security preparations, Police Stations in the cities of Pasig, Mandaluyong, Marikina and San Juan as well as the District Police Safety Battalion or (DPSB) will undertake the following security measures:

1) Deployment of policemen to all bus terminals and other passenger holding areas in coordination with private security agencies and concerned government agencies to prevent any acts of lawlessness by anti-government/terrorist groups or criminal elements;

2) Deployment of police patrol cars and barangay tanods to conduct joint police visibility patrols in the barangays and subdivisions to secure residential houses in close coordination with the detailed private security guards, CVO's and other security fores to prevent the occurrence of Akyat-Bahay gangs or looting;

3) Increase police visibility and secure the MRT and LRT conveyances and other areas frequented by tourists and travelers or where people usually converge like churches, tourist spots, terminals and other areas;

4) Conduct frequent mobile patrol particularly within areas holding the Senakulo/Pabasa;

5) Provide assistance to motorists/commuters and the general public by conducting intensified security patrol, providing traffic assistance along major thoroughfares leading to and from sites where people converge for the Lenten and Summer activities;

6) Establish Public Assistance Centers (PAC's) in strategic locations where large people converge;

7) Place Explosive Ordnance Division/K-9 teams and Emergency Response Teams on standby at their respective headquarters to react to calls of bomb threats and the like;

8) Intensify the conduct of patrols, checkpoints operation to deter any groups from conducting any violent acts during the Lenten Season.

Chief Supt. Francisco Soria Manalo, EPD district director, said the policemen in the east side of the metropolis will not be allowed to take a break as part of the intensified security plan of the police.




No drinking in Manila, please

In Manila, Vice Mayor Isko Moreno called on Manileños not to indulge in drinking sessions as the whole nation observes the celebration of the Holy Week.

He exhorted everyone to spend the week "sacred" instead of resorting to merry-making and drinking sprees which could sometimes spark trouble.

Instead, Moreno said the public should devote their time to praying and joining church activities.

"Minsan lang dumarating ang Semana Santa, sana naman ay gawin natin itong banal at tahimik," said Moreno who met with MPD director Chief Supt. Roberto Rongavilla and station commanders to remind them that they are not allowed to go on leave or day off during the Holy Week.

Moreno cited the need to ensure the safety and protection of residents as they flock to churches, parks and malls that will stay open during the week.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) aired its readiness to provide first aid assistance and ambulance service on major roads for the Holy Week.

PRC chairman Richard Gordon asked all PRC chapters to be on standby 24/7 on Holy Week to provide first aid and medical assistance to possible road accidents that may occur.

The PRC Safety Services will also put up tents, help and welfare desks and first aid stations along major highways and gasoline stations to quickly attend to road accidents.

He said beach resorts and major tourist spots will also be the focus of Safety Services as they put up Beach Patrol and First Aid Stations.

PRC also partnered with Chevron and Petron for the stationing of first aid stations and ambulances.

Chevron Philippines has designated 40 Caltex gas stations in Northern and Southern Luzon that will be manned by 107 Red Cross staff and volunteers with first aid station and ambulance.




24-hour security alert in Quezon City

In Quezon City, Mayor Herbert Bautista declared a heightened alert of preparedness and several departments and offices in the city were ordered to render 24-hour public services to maintain law and order during Lent.

In his memorandum, the protective services cluster including the city's Department of Public Order and Safety (DPOS), Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Quezon City Fire Department and the Bureau of Jail Management and
Penology (BJMP) were ordered to maintain 24-hour stand-by operations.

The memorandum also said that the 24-hour duties of the protective cluster services should be strictly maintained and operational where the concerned personnel, assets, facilities maybe utilized to respond to natural or man-made disasters or calamities.

Bautista also ordered the governance, health services and environment clusters to maintain a skeletal force to ensure the efficiency in the delivery of basic social services during the Lenten Season break.

Millions of Quezon City residents are expected to troop to their respective provinces for the lengthy vacation where the bulk of the exodus of motorists at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) was expected.

Councilor Allan Benedict Reyes of the city's third district advised the public going on vacation to take the necessary precaution to prevent any untoward incidents that may occur en route to their respective destination.

"I advise those leaving for the province to coordinate with their respective barangay officials or neighbors when no one will left to man their houses during their extended vacations to deter robberies which is prevalent during the Lenten Break," Reyes said.




Motorist assistance center in Baclaran

In Parañaque, Mayor Florencio Bernabe asked police to set-up a 24-hour motorist assistance center that will conduct security measures for those who will be visiting the Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church located along Redemptorist Road.

Bernabe said that that police detailed at the 24-hour motorist assistance center will serve as a security detail in churches and religious processions.

He also said that an assistance center will be placed along Roxas Boulevard corner MIA Road, Parañaque City.

The city chief executive added that aside from the local PNP, the Bureau of Fire Protection and barangay officials were also told to raise alert levels during Holy Week.

Bernabe said that Barangay Tanod members will be increasing the frequency of their foot patrols in communities.

The Parañaque Emergency Response Unit (P.E.R.U.) of the City Health Office will be on 24/7 duty.

"The incidence of fires and burglaries are known to rise during this most sacred of occasions when whole families go to pilgrimage sites or visit relatives in home provinces leaving their places of residence unattended. It is for this reason that we have placed the Parañaque PNP,BFP and BGU barangay tanod and disaster brigades on heightened alert," Bernabe said. (Francis Wakefield, Leonardo Postrado, Chito Chavez, Jean Fernando and SPA)