By Lloyd Caliwan
MANILA, (PNA) — The Taguig and the Parañaque city governments have mobilized police and health personnel as part of its “Oplan Undas 2013”, meant to provide assistance to people expected to flock to the cemeteries in the cities during All Saints Day.
In Taguig City, Mayor Lani Cayetano ordered police and health personnel to provide round-the-clock security, medical services and traffic assistance for those who will be observing All Saints Day in all of the city’s eight cemeteries on November 1.
“We are expecting a lot of people to honor their deceased relatives so we want to make this commemoration and tradition as comfortable as it can be for them,” Cayetano said in her statement.
She added the city government launched the 2013 Oplan Undas, which primarily mapped out the security arrangements during the annual holiday where thousands are expected to troop to cemeteries to visit their departed ones.
“With the collaborative effort of several offices within the local government and the Taguig City police, preparations are underway to ensure that no untoward incident occurs come Undas,”
The eight cemeteries across the city that will be securing were Bagumbayan Cemetery, Hagonoy Cemetery, Tuktukan Cemetery, Ligid Catholic Cemetery, Aglipay Cemetery, Libingan ng mga Bayani, Garden of Memories and Maharlika Cemetery
The lady mayor said that helpdesks and first-aid tents will be strategically placed in all of the cemeteries in order to address any concern or respond to any medical emergencies.
She also said the local government of Taguig has ensured that all areas in all of the cemeteries and all streets leading to them are well-lit.
The Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) and the Taguig-PNP will be deploying a total of 868 personnel to the cemeteries starting October 31 to secure the areas.
Members of the Traffic Management Office (TMO) will also be present to manage the traffic of vehicles expected to congest the roads near cemeteries.
Cayetano warned citizens from bringing liquor and deadly weapons to cemeteries come Nov. 1.
“These are strictly prohibited. I encourage everyone to abide by the law. Any violation would be dealt with accordingly,” she said
In Parañaque City, Mayor Edwin L. Olivarez on Wednesday announced the designation of alternate routes in and around the city’s two major memorial parks as part of the traffic management plan for the All Saints’ Day holidays when millions are expected to flock to the country’s cemeteries to pay respect to their departed loved ones.
In a statement, Olivarez said that the city has coordinated with the different homeowners’ associations who have agreed to let motorists use their private subdivision roads to ease the expected congestion along Dr. A. Santos Avenue where the Manila Memorial Park and the Loyola Memorial Park are both located.
“We will keep both the westbound and eastbound lanes of Dr. A. Santos Avenue open to allow traffic to flow continuously along this major thoroughfare. At the same time, we will have an alternate route for motorists going to the memorial parks,” the mayor said.
The traffic plan will be in effect from October 31 to November 3.
The alternate route will start from the Lopez Junction of Dr. A. Santos Avenue in Barangay San Isidro through El Grande Avenue, A. Aguirre Avenue and President Avenue, and ending again along Dr. A. Santos Avenue in Barangay BF Homes. The route will be a two-way traffic.
Aside from the traffic plan, the first time mayor said the city government has also prepared various contingencies for emergency situations, including the deployment of more than 300 police and civilian personnel who will man medical and first aid stations, traffic command centers, ambulances, fire trucks, information booths and security outposts, among others.
The city’s street sweepers and other maintenance personnel will also be on duty during the holidays to help keep the premises of public and private cemeteries clean and orderly.
Aside from the two private memorial parks along Dr. A. Santos Avenue, Parañaque has a public cemetery called Himlayang Palanyag in Kabihasnan, Barangay San Dionisio.
For his part, Southern Police District (SPD) Director head Chief Supt. Jet Villacorte assured the public that roving police officers would be a common sight within the public and private cemeteries in the southern part of Metro Manila.
In a phone interview, Villacorte tasked the police force and concerned barangay government units to field mobile and foot patrols in and out of the city’ cemeteries to maintain peace and order and enforce prohibition against carrying deadly weapons or illegal drugs, bringing or drinking liquor, gambling, playing loud music inside cemeteries, unruly behavior and other unlawful acts.
Villacorte said thousands of uniformed cops had been deployed to patrol cemeteries in the cities of Makati, Pasay, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Taguig and the town of Pateros.
The SPD Chief said that he also tasked his men to cooperate with traffic enforcer in each LGUs as to ensure the smooth flow of traffic during this solemn occasion so that the people can have that precious moment for prayers for their departed relatives.
“All Saints’ Day is an important day for us Filipinos. It is the time when we remember our loved ones who have passed away and reflect on the memories that we shared with them,” Villacorte said.