FOLLOWING the successful handling of security measure for the Christmas and New Year revelries, the Philippine National Police (PNP) on Sunday shifted its full security focus to the upcoming Feast of the Jesus Nazareno on January 9.
Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said police officers were deployed starting January 2 for Masses, community visits in Quiapo and blessing of Nazareno replicas.
He said visibility and intelligence monitoring have been intensified ahead of the annual religious event, which is expected to draw millions of devotees to Quiapo, Manila.
An estimated 15,000 to 18,000 officers will be deployed across Manila and nearby areas, with reinforcements coming from Police Regional Offices in Central Luzon and Calabarzon.
According to Nartatez, coordination with the Manila city government, Quiapo Church, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and other agencies has been ongoing for the past two months.
Medical teams and specialized police units will also be on standby even as the PNP urged the public to cooperate with authorities and observe safety guidelines, especially during the Traslacion procession.
The PNP has not monitored threats linked to the celebration.
Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday said a Code White alert will be in effect in public hospitals in Metro Manila and nearby regions for the upcoming Feast of the Jesus Nazareno.
A Code White indicates that hospitals and medical personnel are on standby to provide immediate emergency care, regardless of the time of day.
The DOH also said that it will deploy 200 emergency health response team members on the day of the annual feast.
Among the cases that the DOH is expected to respond to during the annual feast are those who will experience hypertension and hypoglycemia.
The department said that hospitals are prepared for the worst case scenario.
Those who will join the religous event were told to bring water and wear loose clothes.
Meanwhile, the DOH advised devotees who have health conditions to better stay at their homes for safety.
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