Roxas leads San Pedro Calungsod Thanksgiving Mass
By Hazel F. Gloria
CEBU CITY, Nov 29 (PIA) --- Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas personally led the final ground preparations, Wednesday, for the Thanksgiving Mass for San Pedro Calungsod to ensure a “safe, secure, and solemn” event for the thousands of devotees expected to flock South Road Properties (SRP) in Cebu.
Roxas presided over the final briefing at the event site to ensure that all security preparations and contingencies are in place for the Friday afternoon Thanksgiving Mass which will be preceded by a fluvial parade along the Mactan Channel up to the SRP.
Two land processions by the faithful from the north and south of Cebu will converge at the Mass site.
“Security is our utmost concern. PNP personnel will be dispersed in the crowd and within the perimeter area. Whenever you have so many people in a confined space, crowd control is always an utmost concern. We want to avoid accidents especially in the event of stampede,” Roxas said.
The security briefing was attended by top regional officials of the Philippine National Police, the National Police Commission, the Bureau of Fire Protection and local government officials who are tasked to handle the security and public safety aspects of the event.
“Do not leave anything to chance. Kaligtasan nang kabuuan ang importante. Mabuti na ang maingat kaysa magpabaya tayo at may nangyaring hindi maganda. The safety and convenience of the visitors and Mass attendees are paramount, so we must make sure that all our available resources and personnel are strategically deployed starting yesterday,” Roxas said.
Aside from conducting the final briefing, Roxas led the actual inspection of the site for the Mass as well as the security measures that have been put in place since last week.
Organizers said they expect hundreds of thousands of devotees, clergymen, as well as local and foreign dignitaries to attend the Mass in honor of the second Filipino saint native of Cebu. The PNP said the crowd could even swell to one and a half million.
The PNP is assigning 50 police personnel for every block at the venue, plus other support staff for transport security, intelligence and communications. At least 1,500 police security personnel will be deployed in the main venue alone.
Roxas said while all possible safety and precautionary measures have been identified and put in place, he urged those attending the Mass and those joining the land and fluvial processions to remain vigilant and alert for any possible untoward incident considering the big number of people who are expected to show up.
Firemen, rescue, and emergency personnel will also be present in strategic command posts to enable them to respond promptly and effectively for any eventuality, Roxas said. Fire trucks, ambulances and emergency vehicles will likewise be deployed and ready to respond to any emergency.
He added that the security and emergency preparations cover the fluvial and land procession routes, bus terminals and the designated convergence areas for those coming from the north and south of Cebu City as well as the main event venue itself.
Friday’s VIP attendees will be led by President PNoy and church officials led by Archbishop Emeritus Ricardo Cardinal Vidal, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma, Congregation for the Causes of Saints Prefect Angelo Cardinal Amato and some 40 members of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines along with church dignitaries from other countries.(PIA-7/DILG)