POLICEMEN in Negros Occidental, as well as personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), will be deployed in various areas of convergence, entry and exit points in the province for the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day on November 1 and 2, respectively.
The Negros Occidental Police Provincial Office (Nocppo) is on full alert status starting October 31.
The deployment plan of personnel in every police stations or units strategically concentrated in cemeteries, transportation hubs, malls, public markets and, other places of convergence.
Senior Inspector Aireen Cordua, public information officer of Nocppo, said there will be checkpoint operations as they are expecting an influx of people starting October 31 until November 3.
For Bacolod City, police assistance desks (PADs) will be stationed at 12 cemeteries, two port terminals, two bus terminals, and one jeepney terminal.
Senior Superintendent Francisco Ebreo, acting director of Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO), said two area supervisors and five station inspectors will be assigned to check the deployment and the areas during the occasion.
Ebreo said a minimum of six policemen, including an investigator, will be assigned in each PAD to ensure the safety of the public.
Ebreo said they are also planning to utilize the 300 personnel from Police Regional Office (PRO)-Western Visayas for the said occasion while waiting for their training to start.
The said personnel are those who augmented the existing city police force during the just concluded 39th MassKara Festival.
Ebreo said they can be temporarily utilized for the city's crime prevention measures.
Meanwhile, the PCG in the province is on heightened alert for the said occasion.
Lieutenant Commander Ludovico Librilla Jr., head of PCG-Negros Occidental, said 10 personnel were deployed in each passenger assistance centers in all seaports in the province starting October 27 until November 5.
Coast Guard auxiliaries and marine reservists also augmented them to assist passengers and the conduct of inspection, Librilla said.
K-9 dogs are also placed at the ports for a thorough inspection and paneling of the passengers' baggage, he added.