Cebu City gears up for Nov.1, Nov. 2

CEBU, Philippines - Anticipating a huge crowd at cemeteries on All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, the Cebu City government is taking up measures to ensure a peaceful and orderly observance of the occasions.

The Police Coordinating and Advisory Council, a special body under the city’s executive department, has convened department heads and other government officials for their roles during the two-day event.

The Cebu City Transportation Office, for one, will deploy at least 300 personnel to monitor the city’s major thoroughfares and roads near cemeteries.

Motorists will not be allowed to park near the cemeteries so as to provide more accessible roads for the public.

“As per instruction from Mayor (Michael Rama), we will implement strictly the ‘no parking (policy)’ in front of the cemeteries right at the start of All Saints’ Day,” CCTO Operations Division chief Jonathan Tumulak told reporters yesterday.

As an alternative, Tumulak said they have designated temporary parking areas a few meters away from the cemeteries. Traffic signboards will be put up to avoid traffic and parking issues, he added.

The CCTO officials warned that they will clamp vehicles of owners who fail to follow traffic regulations. Tumulak said they will also deploy traffic enforcers who will not only control the flow of vehicles but also apprehend violators.

CCTO executive director lawyer Rey Gealon said they will also deploy personnel on motorcycles who will respond to vehicular accidents that might disrupt the traffic flow.

These are just part of the city’s preparations as it reactivated its “Oplan Kalag-Kalag” in coordination with the Cebu City Police Office and the Association of Barangay Councils.

Tinago barangay captain Joel Garganera, vice chair of ABC, said they have clustered the barangays in the city to attend to their assigned cemetery.

He said they have yet to discuss about the number of barangay personnel who will serve as force multipliers to the police.

ABC will also put up temporary tents as command centers to oversee the happenings inside and outside of the cemeteries.

They will also install wireless closed-circuit television cameras within the vicinity.

Further, the city’s Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council, apart from its emergency response facilities, will also put up drinking stations and portable toilet rooms for public use. — May B. Miasco/NSA (FREEMAN)