Govt assures public of safety, order on Holy Week — Palace
Credit to Author: CATHERINE S. VALENTE, TMT| Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2019 13:39:14 +0000
MALACAÑANG on Tuesday said that all concerned government agencies have been placed on alert for the Holy Week exodus to ensure that ports and terminals would be orderly and safe for travelers.
In a statement, Palace spokesman Salvador Panelo said that the safety of the public remained the top priority of the government.
“As the Lenten season commences the exodus to various places, concerned government agencies have been placed on a heightened alert status to ensure the safety and security of all,” Panelo said.
“Public safety continues to be our top priority. These include additional security deployments in different areas of convergence, such as bus terminals, airports, seaports, vital government and private installations, churches, malls, and other public recreation areas,” he said.
Panelo said the Philippine National Police (PNP) has deployed 11,600 policemen across Metro Manila, and has also set up more than 4,500 assistance desks across the country.
Meanwhile, the Department of Transportation launched its Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2019 to provide a convenient and safe commuting experience for all passengers, he said.
“Furthermore, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has deployed around 1,500 traffic personnel to assist travelers during the week-long break,” he said.
Panelo also said that the Manila International Airport Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines have also prepared security and transport measures with the deployment of the airport police department personnel in key areas around the airport, as well as the manning of 24/7 airport police help desks.
The Department of Tourism, for its part, has coordinated with the local government units to set up emergency care systems and facilities in tourist destinations ahead of the Holy Week, he said.
Panelo, meanwhile, urged the public to support and cooperate with the government’s effort to ensure everyone’s security and safety during the observation of the Lenten season.
“As we observe the Holy Week , we call on the public for their support through cooperation in the conduct of safety checks and security checkpoints, compliance with traffic regulations and continued maintenance of complete situational awareness of their surroundings,” Panelo said.
“We also urge the public to immediately report suspicious characters and unattended materials such as packages, bags and other objects that are out of place to proper authorities,” he added.
The Palace official also urged the public to remember that “Lent is a time for reflection” as this marks the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ.
“It is a genuine message of solidarity to everyone regardless of the differences in our affiliation or denomination. May the life of sacrifice and humility that Jesus Christ had lived serve as an inspiration to us all so that we may continue to help each other especially in times of need and adversity,” Panelo said.
“May we all have a solemn, peaceful, and renewing break for this Holy Week. And may each one of us have a divinely cleansing and spiritually fulfilling days of Lent,” he said.
Meanwhile, Panelo said the President would spend the Holy Week in his hometown Davao City.
After the Holy Week, Duterte will fly to Beijing to attend the second Belt and Road forum where he is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with China’s President Xi Jinping.
Duterte also spent the Holy Week in his home city last year. In 2017, he embarked on visits to three Middle Eastern countries to meet with counterparts and the Filipino communities there.
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