NDRRMC on red alert for Holy Week

MANILA, Philippines - The operation centers of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and its regional offices will be placed on red alert starting Wednesday in preparation for the Holy Week.

NDRRMC Executive Director Eduardo del Rosario said the alert status would be in place until Monday.

“Our operation center will be fully manned,” he said in a press conference Friday in Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City.

“We will devise a system wherein we can celebrate (the Holy Week) also on rotation basis,” he added.

Member-agencies of the NDRRMC met Friday to discuss preparedness plans as they expect an exodus of people to the provinces in time for the Holy Week.

The Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said it did not detect any threat that could disrupt the event.

Military forces, however, vowed to be vigilant to prevent terrorist groups from staging attacks and sowing chaos.

Col. Bartolome Bacarro of the Office of the AFP Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations said they are also ready for the possible effects of natural disasters.

He said security cooperation with the Philippine National Police would be done through the Joint Peace and Security Coordinating Centers nationwide.

Bacarro said three groups from the Joint Task Force National Capital Region would conduct visibility and security assistance in Metro Manila.

A total of 47 air assets and 40 naval assets are also ready to perform security missions when needed.

The Land Transportation Office said it has enough manpower to man ports to ensure public safety. Port managers, operators and police would not be allowed to file leaves of absences to ensure adequate number of personnel.

The Maritime Industry Authority, for its part, vowed to ensure strict compliance of a policy requiring passengers to first disembark from their vehicles and be processed at the terminal building before proceeding to the vessel.

The agency will also monitor the validity of vessel and crew documents, safety requirements and navigational equipment.

The Philippine Coast Guard has ordered its district and substations to activate assistance centers in areas where heavy influx of passengers is expected

The Transportation department said it would inspect buses for road worthiness and franchise documents and continue the drive against unregistered vehicles

It also vowed to implement heightened security inside and within the immediate vicinity of seaport premises thorough the deployment of additional port security officers.

Fast lanes will also be established at seaport screening areas for passengers with minimal belongings.

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and airport authorities would provide additional seats around terminal buildings for the convenience of passengers.

Other measures to be implemented include random airport facility inspections and drug and alcohol testing of flight crew working for commercial operators.

The Philippine National Police has been tasked to deploy road safety marshals along main roads and to set-up assistance desks in crowded places. – Alexis Romero