Makati to use drone for security watch at Manila South Cemetery

MANILA, Philippines - The Makati City government will be using a drone to secure the Manila South Cemetery and its surroundings during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Acting Mayor Romulo ‘Kid’ Peña Jr. said the drone will be operated by personnel of the Makati Rescue and will be interconnected with the police force positioned along the perimeter of Manila South Cemetery.

“In addition to the usual security measures implemented in the past years, we are going to use a drone to provide our peacekeepers a clear overhead view of various parts of the cemetery. Unlike foot and bike patrols, a remote controlled drone will be able to conduct reconnaissance discreetly and without close physical contact with the throngs of people expected to arrive,” Peña said.

Meanwhile, Peña said some 311 MAPSA personnel would be deployed for the city’s “Oplan Undas” from October 31 to November 2, along with 100 Makati police officers and 100 officers from the National Capital Region Police Office.

Peña added that some 754 personnel from the city’s Department of Environmental Services (DES) would also be on duty to conduct cleanup operations and enforce the city’s anti-littering ordinance and plastic ban at the Manila South Cemetery.

Public Safety Department officer-in-charge Elmer Cabrera said the following streets will be closed to traffic starting 12 midnight of October 31 to 12 midnight of November 2: Kalayaan Avenue (from Zapote to F. Zobel), South Avenue (from Metropolitan to J.P. Rizal), Vito Cruz (from South Avenue to Zapote), Nicanor Garcia (from Jupiter to J.P. Rizal), and Pililia (from J.P. Rizal to Kalayaan).

For the duration of the closures, two-way traffic will be allowed in J.P. Rizal (from Pasong Tirad to Makati Avenue), and Kalayaan Avenue (from F. Zobel to Makati Avenue, and from Pasong Tirad to Zapote).

Police assistance posts will be put up around the Manila South Cemetery to provide security for the general public and monitor and confiscate prohibited items, including firearms, bladed weapons, liquor and loudspeakers or amplifiers. 

The Makati Rescue and fire department will have a station at South Avenue near the entrance of South Cemetery, while the first responders and barangay officials and personnel of the adjoining barangays will also put up stations at their jurisdictional areas.

The public may also call Makati’s emergency hotline 168 for any inquiry or assistance needed. Other PLDT numbers connected to 168 are the following: 870-1920, 870-1923, 870-1926, 870-1929, 870-1932, 870-1935, 870-1940 and 870-1942.