DILG OIC Eduardo Año INQUIRER.net file photo
In anticipation of the influx of people to churches for the Holy Week, the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Sunday directed local government units (LGU) to ensure the safety of the public participating in the various religious activities.
Eduardo Año, DILF officer-in-charge, said that while the country observed the solemnity of the Holy Week, the LGU should also guarantee the public of their safety.
Citing the memorandum dated March 21, Año directed LGU officials to order their respective peace and order councils to prepare for the stream of travelers and pilgrims taking advantage of the break.
“Semana Santa is a time for spiritual recollection for Filipinos. LGUs should ensure that people can undertake their activities without worrying about their safety,” Año said in a statement.
“It [Semana Santa] also falls on the tail-end of school year when students are free to go for a vacation and professionals are enjoying their holiday break, so we are expecting a heavy movement of people taking advantage of this time,” he added.
Año also told law enforcement agents to intensity their deployment during the Holy Week particularly in crime prone areas.
The LGUs must closely coordinate with the Philippine National Police, the Bureau of Jail Management Penology (BJMP) and other security and safety authorities in order to fully assure the public of their safety, Año said. /cbb