MANILA, Philippines — The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has called on local government units and law enforcement agencies to tighten its safety measures to ensure a peaceful “Undas” season.
“Ang Undas naman ay taunang paggunita sa ating mga namayapang kaanak kaya tinitiyak naming ilang linggo pa lamang bago ang araw na ito ay may plano na para sa seguridad ng mga tao,” DILG chief Eduardo Año said in a statement on Wednesday.
(Undas is a season to remember our departed loved ones so we already implemented security measures weeks before this season.)
“Unfortunately, criminals can take advantage of this time of the year, kaya kailangan paghandaan ang seguridad (so we must prepare for our safety),” he added.
Año issued DILG Memorandum Circular 2019-174 to remind LGUs to convene their respective Local Peace and Order Council (LPOC) and create a contingency plan on peace, order, and public safety.
LGUs must maximize their LPOCs to protect the public from threat as they visit cemeteries during Undas season, Año said.
More than 30,000 police officers and 99,716 force multipliers or volunteers are deployed in cemeteries nationwide to secure the Undas season. /je