Heightened alert in CV

CEBU, Philippines - The Police Regional Office-7 declared a heightened alert status in Central Visayas starting Sunday until Monday next week for the Holy Week observance.

Cebu acting governor Agnes Magpale, along with officials from the Land Transportation Office and the Land Franchising Regulatory Board, will also inspect ports of entry and exit tomorrow morning.

Sr. Supt. Edward Carranza, chief of the Regional Directorial Staff, said there will be regular police patrol at bus stations and seaports and that public assistance centers will be installed at churches.

The PRO-7 will implement the same security scheme as last year but it will deploy more police personnel in populated areas.

“Based on reviewed plans among of the key points is to provide maximum police in populated areas like beaches where tourists mostly gather,” Carranza said.

The town of Minglanilla will also be provided with maximum number of policemen until Sunday for the Sugat Kabanhawan Festival, in which thousands are expected to attend.

The PRO-7 also strengthened the deployment of tourist police. All policemen are directed to be courteous all the time and in proper uniform.

Command group supervisors will also be deployed to make sure the entire security plan is in place.

Provinces of Negros Oriental and Siquijor will be supervised by Deputy Regional Director for Operations Sr. Supt. Orlando Ualat while Bohol province will be supervised by Deputy Regional Director for Administration Chief Supt. Samuel Yordan.

Cebu province will be manned by Carranza while Metro Cebu will be supervised by PRO-7 director Chief Supt. Marcelo Garbo.

The tight security during Holy Week is part of police security during the summer vacation.

The Coast Guard District Central Visayas is also implementing tight security for passengers traveling to various destinations.

K9 personnel, Special Operations Group and Medical Assistance Team will be deployed to ensure safe sea travels.

The PCG encouraged passengers to be at seaport terminals at least two hours before their scheduled departure and discouraged the bringing of prohibited items like flammable substances, bladed weapons and firearms.

Magpale to lead inspections

The number of passengers flocking to ports and terminals starting tomorrow is expected to increase.

With this, Magpale and officials of LTO-7 and LTFRB-7 will inspect ports and terminals tomorrow morning.

Magpale said they will start with the Mactan Cebu International Airport and will proceed to the Marcelo Fernan Bridge to check the progress of the ongoing rehabilitation works.

On March 18, the Department of Public Works and Highways started the repair of the bridge and works are expected to be completed within two weeks.

From the bridge, Magpale and her group will head to the North Bus Terminal and the South Bus terminal.

Although the North Bus Terminal is not under the Capitol’s jurisdiction, Magpale said they will have to check it for the safety of the passengers.

The group will also visit the Cebu Port Authority and other ports that have huge passenger traffic.

Neil Sanchez, head of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, said they implemented a 24-hour monitoring of terminals and ports in the province. —/LPM (FREEMAN)