Wireless public cemetery, Davao city (davaotoday.com file photo)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines – The city government of Davao has beefed up its security and traffic plans in preparation for Undas, a local term for the Roman Catholic’s celebration of All Saints’ and All Souls’ day on Nov. 1 and 2, respectively.
“We discussed the security concerns on the celebration of Undas as their will be an increase of volume of people going to cemeteries,” Atty. Laurel Bantiding, assistant city administrator for operations of Davao said Thursday.
Batinding said a series of meetings had been conducted with other departments in lieu of “Oplan Kaluluwa.”
The departments involved in the planning were the Public Safety and Security Command Center, Task Force Davao, Davao City Police Office, Central 911, City Transport and Traffic Management Office, City General Services Office, City Engineer’s Office.
The City Environment and Natural Resources Office and the City Economic Enterprise Office, the agency in-charge of the city’s public cemeteries, and barangay officials where public cemeteries are located are also involved in preparations.
Bantiding warned the public that audio equipments are prohibited inside the cemetery. “This is a solemn celebration.”
“No one should make noise in the cemeteries,” he said, adding that additional lights in public cemeteries were also installed.
President’s visit
The city administrator also anticipated the visit of the President Rodrigo Duterte in Wireless Cemetery where his mother was laid to rest.
He emphasized that the same security plan would be implemented in both public or private cemeteries, noting that all cemeteries are “vulnerable to any incident.”
“Even small cemeteries in Marilog [district], Paquibato, there are deployed Incident Command System, deployment of police, and district personnel,” Bantiding said.
“Everything will be served,” he added.
Security and traffic advisory
On Oct. 21, Police Regional Office XI spokesperson Chief Insp. Andrea dela Cerna said they will deploy additional 500 to 1,000 police troops for additional security of the general public on the celebration of Undas.
Apart from police troops, Davao City Police spokesperson Sr. Insp. Catherine dela Rey said troops from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) and the Task Force (TF) Davao and other security agencies will also be tapped.
Traffic road maps which were posted on the city government’s Facebook page were also provided for the public for Undas.
From Oct. 31 to Nov. 2, about 300 traffic personnel will also be deployed to manage the traffic flow on all roads leading to cemeteries. Road congestion is to be expected on the said dates. (davaotoday.com)
