BY NYARIKA DOMANAIS & RUBY P. SILUBRICO
ILOILO City – Operating units and substations under the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Region 6 were placed on heightened alert status as many will be out of their homes for long this Holy Week.
BFP-6 was on code blue from March 24 to March 26 in line with the “Oplan Lakbay Alalay and Semana Santa 2024” and is on full alert, or “code red,” beginning Holy Wednesday, March 27, until Easter Sunday, March 31.
Fire Chief Superintendent Felixberto Abrenica, BFP-6 director, warned the public to be extra careful.
Among the fire safety measures he cited are to unplug appliances and turn off the stove, or if possible, turn off the main power source, blow out all candles before leaving, store combustible materials safely, make sure the house is properly locked, and ask a trusted neighbor to keep an eye on your house.
BFP-6’s First Aid Service Teams, together with an ambulance and medical personnel, will be deployed in strategic areas, including national highways and populated areas such as pilgrim sites and churches, to ensure on-time response delivery in case of fire and other emergencies.
Beliran added that every BFP station has a motorist assistance desk, in coordination with the Philippine National Police and local government units.
For its part, the Police Regional Office 6 (PRO-6) also reminded the public to ensure their houses are locked and secured from any unwanted elements if they plan to spend the Holy Week and summer vacation.
“We would like to remind house owners to make sure their houses are secured because thieves have the time to break in and enter their houses. If possible, they have to inform their neighbors to check on their house while they are away,” said Police Brigadier General Jack Wanky, PRO-6 director.
Wanky also assured the public that PRO-6 has enough police officers to respond to any situation that may arise and to ensure peace and order across the region this Holy Week.
The PRO-6 said thousands of police officers were deployed around the region for this year’s Holy Week.
Wanky earlier said he wanted to enforce maximum police visibility for the security of the local and foreign tourists as well as pilgrims, particularly those who would want to visit pilgrim sites such as in Jordan, Guimaras to witness the “Ang Pagtaltal sa Balaan Bukid.”
“We hope and we expect a peaceful and orderly Holy Week,” he added./PN
