TACLOBAN CITY – The security preparations for the Fiesta Activities of this City was among the concerns discussed during the joint meeting of the City Peace and Order Council and the City Anti-Drug Abuse Council chaired by Mayor Cristina G. Romualdez.

Held at the City Mayor’s Office Boardroom on Thursday, June 15; the meeting presided by Mayor Romualdez also discussed updates of the  New Beginning’s Rehabilitation program of the City Government and other Drug Related Concerns.

In attendance were representatives of the City DILG led by City Director Atty. Darwin Bibar, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency, the Religious and the Business Sector.

The Chief Executive stressed that activities related to the City Fiesta should be secured to ensure its orderly and successful holding.  Added the Mayor, we owe it to the spectators and guests who will troop to the City to make them feel secured as they enjoy the festivities.

She committed that the City Government will work closely with the local police office to ensure this.

During the meeting Tacloban City Police Office (TCPO) Chief Senior Supt. Rolando Bade presented their security preparation for the June 29 Sangyaw Festival Parade of Lights and the slated religious activities; which will  include the deployment of  nearly 600 police personnel along the Parade Routes and strategic locations throughout the City.

According to Bade augmentation forces will come from the Leyte Provincial Police Office, Maritime Group, Regional Public Safety Battalion, the Military Intelligence Battalion and the Fisheries Law Enforcement Team of the City Government, among others.

The Police Official also disclosed that “Blocking Forces” will be stationed along the main thoroughfares; while they will activate the Oplan Bakal Sita in four strategic checkpoints and set up six Police Assistance Desks. K-9 units will also be mobilized to patrol the parade routes and crowded areas.

Earlier, the TCPO had set up a frisking point at the entrance of the Sangyawan Park -a concert venue;  prohibiting the bringing of backpacks by patrons inside the venue went it opened on June 9.

Meantime, the PDEA reported that for the period January to  June 13 it had conducted 139 buy busts operations in the City with more than 400 grams of Shabu seized.  In the same period, 214 Drug Personalities  were arrested.

The New Beginnings Program on the other hand, said that they have trained and deployed  154 life coaches and MASA MASID volunteers to conduct sessions for Drug Surrenderers; while their skills are being  profiled to prepare them as they go back to their normal lives.

The program is also targeting to pilot two barangays for the Community Based Wellness and Recovery Program of the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

The CPOC and CADAC will meet again before the fiesta to finalize its security plan. -HENRY JAMES G. ROCA/CIO