MANILA, Philippines - Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas has appealed to the public for cooperation and understanding as the government beefs up its security and safety preparations for the visit of Pope Francis this week.
Roxas said that the people that the security plan mapped out by the national government is neither exaggerated nor is it intended to inconvenience the public.
"These are not inconveniences or if they really are, it is really for the greater good of the Pope and the public at large," Roxas said in a statement.
Roxas is referring to the safety and security measures that are being carried out by the Philippine National Police (PNP), Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and other agencies of government, which include closure of streets and severe traffic jams from January 15 to 19.
The security measures also include strict procedures for the entry and exit of devotees at the Luneta Grandstand in Manila;, disruption of Light Rail Transit services, as well as the building inspection in light of the stampede incident in Shanghai, China and Paris attacks last week.
"It’s the Pope’s security, our own security and our country’s face and honor," Roxas said.
He noted that the recent celebration of the feast of Black Nazarene in Quiapo was deemed as a dry run for the Papal visit, following the roughly 5 million devotees that flocked to Luneta in Manila to attend the mass for the ‘Itim na Nazareno.’
"We enjoin all sectors to help us, the government reached out to our kababayans that we are all hosts here and not just to exercise restraint, "Roxas added.