No untoward incidents related to Kalag-Kalag 2017 in Region 7

CEBU, Philippines — There were no reported untoward incidents related to the observance of the All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days in the whole region.

This was the announcement of the Police Regional Office in Central Visayas (PRO-7) attributing the success to the cooperation of all stakeholders, especially the local government units and the public.

Senior Superintendent Renato Dugan, chief of the Police Community Relations Office, the police doubled its effort to make sure that the two days will be peaceful.

 He revealed that the 3,000 personnel deployed will be back to their respective police units today and the force multipliers will report to their day jobs.

 Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) Director Senior Supt. Joel Doria said that at least 600 personnel will still be deployed in cemeteries and public assistance desks to ensure safety and security in cemeteries and selected converging points until today.

 Based on the records from CCPO, the crowd estimate is lesser this year as compared to last year’s due to the rainy weather condition.

For his part, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña considers this year’s observance of Kalag-Kalag as the “most organized” compared to his previous terms as city mayor.

“…Very detailed, so many stations, very organized, the shifting…the deployment and the scheduling is very detailed,” Osmeña told reporters during his press conference yesterday.

He commended City Councilor David Tumulak, chairman on public order and safety, Senior Supt. Doria, Cebu City Transportation Office Operations Chief Francisco Ouano, and barangay tanods for their collaborative effort in making Kalag-Kalag 2017 in Cebu City peaceful and orderly.

Meanwhile, Osmeña plans to ask North District Representative Raul Del Mar and South District Representative Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa to sponsor a bill declaring every first Monday of November a holiday.

“This will assure that All Saints’ Day is always a long weekend and would allow people to go back to their provinces,” Osmeña said.

He came out with this idea after he noticed that some individuals will report to their work every Saturday.

“I-change ang holiday. You can still go to mass on November 1 but the holiday is every first Monday of November.  I think some people will object but many will not mind,” Osmeña said.  —MBG (FREEMANNEWS)