IGACOS gears up security for Holy Week

ISLAND GARDEN CITY OF SAMAL - In observance of the Holy Week the Island Garden City of Samal (IGaCoS) here has geared up its safety and security system in anticipation to increase influx of local and foreign tourists coming  in the island for the holy  week and  others who would  flock in beaches to while away the long week vacation.

City Mayor’s Office Chief of Staff Mabel Deniega in behalf of City Mayor Aniano P. Antalan called a meeting with officials from the 1003 Infantry Brigade, Philippine National Police-Samal, Bureau of Fire Protection, Task Force Samal, City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Division, City Health Office, City Investment and Tourism Office at the City Mayor’s Office on  Monday, March 16.

The meeting aimed to re-activate  the “Oplan Semana Santa 2015” to heighten safety and security measures and ensure  availability of health services in churches, tourists spots and  other areas of convergence for the occasion.

The body agreed to employ the Incident Command System (ICS) and identified City Mayor Aniano P. Antalan as the Incident Commander (IC) and CDRRM Executive Officer Janus Rafailes as his alternate IC. The Incident Command Post will be set-up at Penaplata Freedom Park of Barangay Penaplata, Samal District.

It was also agreed that  Task Groups composed of national and local security agencies and health service providers to include Philippine Coast Guard,  Naval Forces of Eastern Mindanao (NFEM),  PNP Maritime Police, Tactical Operations Group (TOG) 11, 1003rd IB, PNP-Samal, Task Force Samal, CDRRM, CHO, BFP and Kabalikat Civicom will be assigned and be posted in strategic areas  in every districts.

The Task Group for Babak District will establish their Post at the Babak Wharf; Task Group for Samal District will locate themselves at Penaplata Freedom Park where the Incident Command Post will be established and the Task Group for Kaputian District will also established their post near the Kaputian Beach Park while the Talicud Island Task Group, to established their post at the point of entry Barangay Sta. Cruz Wharf and at Barangay Linusotan.

The Maritime Police will conduct shoreline patrol over areas from Barangay Adecor to Barangay Balet while the NFEM to cover areas from Barangay Balet to Barangay Kanaan and Philippine Coastguard to watch over areas from Barangay Kanaan  over Talicud Island to Barangay Adecor. The PNP will also  conduct mobile patrol along the major thoroughfares in the mainland and some of the beaches.

The City Investment and Tourism Office (CITO) will establish Information Booths in major point of entry particularly in Babak Wharf and  the Tourist Police Post will also be manned on these days to give assistance to tourists and  visitors.


A Send Off Program for the Task Groups  for  their assigned areas    was scheduled on April 2 at Penaplata Freedom Park, Samal District where the Incident Command Post will also be installed. (MTA Samal)