ISLAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL, Davao del Norte, March 23 (PNA) — This city has geared up its safety and security system in anticipation of the influx of local and foreign tourists for the coming Holy Week.
The city government here with officials from the 1003 Infantry Brigade, Philippine National Police-Samal, Bureau of Fire Protection, Task Force Samal, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division, City Health Office and City Investment and Tourism Office convened to re-activate the “Oplan Semana Santa 2015” to heighten safety and security measures and ensure availability of health services in churches, tourist spots and other areas of convergence for the occasion.
The body agreed to employ the Incident Command System (ICS) and Incident Command Post that will be set-up at Peñaplata Freedom Park of Barangay Penaplata, Samal District.
It was also agreed that Task Groups composed of national and local security agencies and health service providers to include Philippine Coast Guard, Naval Forces of Eastern Mindanao (NFEM), PNP Maritime Police, Tactical Operations Group (TOG) 11, 1003rd IB, PNP-Samal, Task Force Samal, CDRRM, CHO, BFP and Kabalikat Civicom will be assigned and be posted in strategic areas in every district.
Maritime Police will conduct shoreline patrol over areas from Barangay Adecor to Barangay Balet while the NFEM to cover areas from Barangay Balet to Barangay Kanaan and Philippine Coast Guard to watch over areas from Barangay Kanaan over Talicud Island to Barangay Adecor.
The PNP will also conduct mobile patrol along the major thoroughfares in the mainland and some of the beaches.
The City Investment and Tourism Office (CITO) will establish Information Booths at the major point of entry particularly in Babak Wharf and the Tourist Police Post will also be manned on these days to give assistance to tourists and visitors.
A send-off Program for the Task Groups for their assigned areas was scheduled on April 2 at Peñaplata Freedom Park. (PNA)