ILOILO City – During All Saints’ Day (Nov. 1) and All Souls’ Day (Nov. 2), 99 violators of the city’s ordinance prohibiting smoking in public places and conveyances were apprehended.
Sixty other persons were caught littering by the city government’s Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO).
The campaign against Halloween smokers and litterbugs ended on midnight of Nov. 2, said PSTMO chief Jeck Conlu.
Twenty-nine vendors were also apprehended for setting up illegal structures on sidewalks leading to cemeteries and 18 violators of the anti-modified muffler ordinance.
The apprehensions were part of the city government’s measures to ensure peace and order on Nov. 1 and 2.
Sixty-two more persons were caught trying to sneak into cemeteries pointed and sharp objects, liquor, flammable materials and cigarettes, among others; these have been banned.
Meanwhile, a total of 52 persons who fell ill in cemeteries were assisted by the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Iloilo City Emergency Response Team, Philippine Red Cross, City Health Office, and volunteer group United Kabalikat Civicom-Navy.
The Iloilo City Police Office, on the other hand, established 60 Police Assistance Desks in various cemeteries. On Nov. 1, these assisted an estimated 64,000 cemetery-goers and on Nov. 2, 2,200 people.
For its part, the Philippine Coast Guard – Iloilo City Station reported 7,175 outbound passengers at the Parola Wharf, Fort San Pedro, and Iloilo-Bacolod Lapuz Terminal on Nov. 1 and a total of 5,686 boat passengers on Nov. 2./PN
