THOSE under the influence of liquor during Kadayawan highlights will be isolated, said an official of the Public Safety and Security Command Center (PSSCC) Monday.
PSSCC officer-in-charge Retired General Francisco said the same policies will be implemented during the celebration of Kadayawan, especially the core events like Indak-indak sa Kadalanan and Floral Float Parade, such as the no-backpack rule.
There is also one more rule to be implemented next week: “Bawal din yung lasing habang nanonood. Bawal sila baka kasi makagulo sa ating activity,” Villaroman said.
“They will be just frozen (sic), then iche-check sila mabuti meron tayo procedures gagawin. Unless they create trouble, they will be subjected to arrest,” he added.
Local authorities brace up for the Kadayawan week-long celebration which will kick off next week.
He said backpacks will still be discouraged during the highlight events.
“There will be depository boxes for backpackers, except lactating mother, but it will be checked by security elements,” he said. [READ: Police: No backpacks, No ‘suplados’]
Villaroman said the police and military were required to submit an integrated and comprehensive security plan for the events.
He said some 3,000 to 5,000 security forces will be deployed during the celebration.
“They are ready for any eventuality just in case we need more security forces. We will be augmented by Police Regional Office-Davao (PRO 11) and Philippine Army 10th ID,” Villaroman said.
He said there will also be 350 PSSCC forces who will serve as “human barricade”, augmenting DCPO and TFD forces and other stakeholders like army reserves, coast guards as well as other city groups in Davao City.
“In normal situation, we will treat it as a normal festivity. We can only level it to higher alert if there are threats coming in. By that, we’ll not show to the public that we are having some threats baka ma discourage sila manood ng ating activities. Gusto din naming maraming participation tayo from students, so kelangan maging normal ang situation,” he said.
He said all the 173 CCTV cameras for intelligence monitoring unit and 11 CCTV cameras for traffic monitoring unit.
The PSSCC might replace or transfer some 10 units from an area to a strategic place near the activity area to monitor events.
Meanwhile, Chief Inspector Alfredo Baluran, chief of the Davao City Police Office's (DCPO) Operation, said there will be more than 1,000 police personnel from DCPO to be deployed during the festivity for the foot and mobile patrols, random checkpoints, and other integrated patrol systems.
"All entrance and exit points to the city are sealed. Only after thorough inspections that motorist will be will be allowed to proceed to its destinations. In fact, nakahanda naman kami. We're just waiting for the exact schedule of the Kadayawan activities," he said.
He also said that aside from their estimated 1,000 personnel, the Police Regional Office (PRO-Davao) will also augment 150 personnel to DCPO in line with its request.
Baluran said the authorities are still in full alert status, and have intensified their intelligence monitoring and target hardening, following earlier reports on terror threats in Mindanao.
Task Force Davao (TFD) commander Colonel Macairog Alberto, said their unit will deploy around 300 troops.
City Tourism Operations Office officer-in-charge Lisette Marques said moe than 150,000 local and foreign tourists are expected to join the celebration.
“Pero sa ngayon wala pa masyadong bisita but they are perceiving na maraming grupong darating starting next week,” she said.
This year's theme for Kadayawan is "Kalamboan sa Kinaiyahan: Kadayawan sa Katawhan" or Nature's Flourishing: People's Well-being."
The one-week celebration will kick off with the Pagbukas or the Kadayawan Celebratory Opening Ceremony on August 12 at 5 p.m. at Rizal and Quezon Parks.