City starts “Kalag-Kalag” security preparations

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City government has started its security preparations for the observance of the All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day next month.

Vice Mayor Edgar Labella, who is currently acting mayor, said that contingency plans have been laid out to secure the cemeteries on November 1 and 2 where people are expected to gather to visit the graves of their departed loved ones.

Labella said the city is reactivating its “Oplan Kalag-Kalag” in coordination with the Cebu City police Office and the Association of Barangay Councils.

 “We have contingency plans in coordination with (CCPO acting chief Marciano) Batiancela,” Labella said.

Labella said that the barangays with cemeteries have already started the groundwork for the security preparations. He said there will be a final conference on Friday among the security stakeholders.

Councilor Philip Zafra, president of the ABC, said the council will be augmenting five to six barangay tanods in each cemetery. He said the barangays which have cemeteries include Guba and Sudlon in the mountain while Calamba, Carreta, Tejero and Talamban in the urban area.

The Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council will be installing wireless security cameras within the vicinity of the cemeteries starting next week.

Councilor David Tumulak said they will have an early preparation in all the cemeteries in the city since they are expecting people to start visiting the graves earlier.

“Among gilauman nga modagsa ang mga tawo nga buot mobisita sa ilang mahal sa kinabuhi sa adlaw sa Biyernes, Sabado ug Domingo tungod bisan pa man Nobiyembre 2 ang Lunes wala man kini gideklarar nga holiday,” Tumulak said. —(FREEMAN)