Security assured for Cagayan De Oro visitors during festival of friendship

Contingents of the Higalaay Street Carnival perform during Friday’s competition. Photos from Cagayan de Oro Information Office

CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY — Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Rolando Uy has assured visitors of the Higalaay (Friendship) Festival activities that the city is safe and secured, although he asked that revelers strictly observe minimum health protocols against COVID-19.

Uy expressed confidence in the security plans and preparations of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (COCPO) all throughout the festival that culminates on Sunday, the feast of Saint Augustine, patron of this seat of the Northern Mindanao region which is also billed as the “City of Golden Friendship.”

“Our police force is ready and prepared to ensure the safety and security of everyone who comes to celebrate (with us) the feast of Saint Augustine,” Uy said.

“I request everybody to cooperate with the security measures and observe minimum public health standards such as wearing of face masks all the time when in public places, and disinfecting,” Uy added.

Lt. Col. Surki Sereñas, COCPO deputy director for administration, noted that throughout the month-long festivities, the incidence of index crimes was low.

The average weekly crime volume from January to July was 10. But last week, this dipped to just three, which was the lowest so far this year. Three weeks prior to this, the average was seven.

Contingents of the Higalaay Street Carnival perform during Friday’s competition. Photos from Cagayan de Oro Information Office

“We attribute this breakthrough to the community support to our operational strategy and pro-active approach to crime prevention,” said Sereñas.

Under the leadership of Col. Aaron Mandia, city police director, the COCPO heightened law enforcement presence and visibility to the people by enforcing laws and ordinances on such seemingly minor concerns as mendicancy, smoking in public places, vandalism, littering, and the like.

“The strategy is an adaptation of Singapore’s subsidiary legislation on discipline such as ban on chewing gums, littering, and smoking in public,” Sereñas explained.

This has the effect of preempting the commission of crimes, he added.

During Friday’s Higalaay Street Carnival, which mimics Rio de Janeiro’s, and Higalaay Civic Parade, no untoward incident was reported, so far.

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