All Saints’, All Souls’ days: Police security in place

CEBU, Philippines - Following inspection yesterday, Police Regional Office-7 director Danilo Constantino said everything is in place for security at ce-meteries in Cebu City during observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Constantino also inspected the south and north bus terminals as well as the seaports after inspecting Calamba and Carreta cemeteries.

“Nakita natin lahat ng security measures pinapatupad naman,” said Constantino.

The PRO-7 director first inspected South Bus Terminal where he handed out leaflets on security tips to passengers.

A sufficient number of  policemen from Cebu City and Cebu Provincial Police Office were already deployed to anticipate the influx of passengers.

Over 500 police personnel were also deployed in 22 cemeteries in the city to assist barangay tanods.

Cebu City Police Office director Noli Romana said security cameras were also installed in Carreta and Calamba cemeteries.

Response teams

The public may still call police hotline 166 for medical emergencies today and tomorrow.

“We will have the same setup as what we had during the election. We will continue to link with PNP hotline 166 and the police will be the one to inform us of an alarm where nearby mobile Emergency Medical Services team will immediately be deployed to respond,” Councilor Dave Tumulak said.

Basak Pardo Emergency Rescue (BPER) will deploy three ambulance units while one unit each from Inayawan Rescue Unit, Ang Labangon Emergency Team (ALERT), and Pit-os Rescue Unit will be on standby.

The Emergency Rescue Unit Foundation (ERUF) will send five teams while Philippine Red Cross will deploy two.

“You see, despite what happened to CCMC (Cebu City Medical Center) being affected by the earthquake, we are responding to medical needs of our constituents. Apart from mobile emergency response teams, we also have our health centers,” Tumulak said.

City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM) executive director Atty. Rafael Yap said more personnel are deployed in cemeteries around the city with Cempark having the most number.

“Just came from Cempark, Queen City, Carreta, and Calamba cemeteries. So far so good, orderly ra,” Yap said after conducting an inspection yesterday afternoon.

Mayor Michael Rama also conducted ocular inspection in all major cemeteries.

A traffic rerouting plan was earlier announced to divert vehicles in areas near major cemeteries in the city.

Prevention Restoration Order Beautification Enhancement (PROBE) chief Raquel Arce said they would regulate vendors inside the cemeteries.

“We divided the team into three. Team south for Pardo, Calamba and A. Lopez cemetery, north team covers Talamban, Cempark Queen City, Carreta, Barrio Luz, Osmeña cemetery. The central team operates in Carbon Market complex for Operation Buwak,” Arce told The Freeman.

Meanwhile, the city government’s “Piso Mo, Hospital Ko for CCMC” campaign will also hit the cemeteries.

“We will play our five minute audio visual presentation that we presented during the launch of the campaign and will have personnel speaking over megaphones. This is part of our information dissemination drive and also a chance for those who would want to contribute but could not personally go to designated areas for donations,” city information officer Carlo Dugaduga told The Freeman.

DILG memo

The Department of Interior and Local Government directed all regional directors and mayors to deploy law enforcers and barangay tanods in cemeteries.

DILG Secretary Mar Roxas, in a memorandum, also directed local chief executives to convene their Local Peace and Order Councils to formulate contingency plan on peace and order and public safety.

As part of the contingency plan, Roxas specifically cited the need to deploy law enforcers, barangay tanods and medical personnel in public and private cemeteries and memorial parks all over the country.

In a separate statement, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources-7 urged the public to keep cemeteries garbage-free during the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

“We strongly advise everyone to use materials that are reusable or recyclable so that we produce less solid waste,” DENR-7 Regional Executive Director Dr. Isabelo R. Montejo said.

Montejo reminded that local government units have the “primary task” of enforcing the provisions of Republic Act No. 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000.

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 issued special permits for buses travelling outside their regular routes.

LTFRB-7 regional director Ahmed Cuizon said that as of yesterday, 16 special permits were issued for the North Bus Terminal and 19 for the South Bus Terminal.

Cuizon said the Land Transportation Office-7 and LTFRB-7 have established help desks for special permit issuance, passenger assistance and vehicle inspections.

Cebu Port Authority security chief Oscar Lopez said they have put up help desks in terminals since October 25 until November 4.

Coast Guard commander for Central Visayas, Commodore William Melad, said there’s an increase in passenger volume at the ports in the afternoon yesterday. — /LPM (FREEMAN)