DUMAGUETE CITY, Philippines — Negros Oriental province is now under full alert status for the coming observance of All Saints Day and All Souls Day, according to police provincial director Sr. Supt. Edward Carranza.
Carranza yesterday said the police will set up at least 65 public safety assistance centers at the entrance of public and private cemeteries in the province to avert any crimes or untoward incidents.
Additional police forces are also on stand-by for immediate deployment when necessary, while security measures are also being adopted in places like bus terminals, sea ports and the airport, he said, adding that tarpaulins will be erected in strategic locations to inform the public of the nearest police assistance center as well as PNP hotline numbers.
Caranza said it has been expected that people would be traveling to their home provinces as early as Friday for the long weekend, as President Benigno Simeon Aquino III has declared October 31 a special non-working holiday to allow family and friends to have more time to commemmorate the days for their dead loved ones.
November 1 traditionally is also a regular non-working holiday.
On Friday, October 28, the Negros Oriental Provincial Police Office will deploy tourist police in Dumaguete and the nearby towns of Sibulan and San Jose, Carranza said.
The police will also tapped barangay tanods, police auxiliary units, and traffic management personnel to assist in maintaining peace and order and ensuring smooth flow of traffic during the holidays. (FREEMAN)