The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) has placed its operation center and all regional offices on heightened alert to ensure safe observance of Lent.
“The OCD regional offices, along with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils (RDRRMCs) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Operations Center (NDRRMOC), have elevated their alert levels in response to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure public safety during the Holy Week observance,” the agency said in a statement.
Earlier, OCD has issued a “blue alert” for the NDRRMC and the Cordillera region, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Quezon), Mimaropa (Mindoro, Marinduque, Romblon, Palawan), Central Visayas, Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao region, Socsargen, Caraga, and Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
Under the ‘blue alert,’ uniformed personnel from the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), and Philippine National Police (PNP), along with other concerned agencies, will immediately deploy detailed duty officers (DDOs) at the NDRRMOC to ensure 24-hour duty on a rotational basis.
The National Capital Region is under “blue alert” from 5 p.m. Wednesday until 8 a.m. on April 21. Bicol and Western Visayas are currently on red alert due to potential threats from Mount Mayon and Mount Kanlaon, respectively, as well as other weather disturbances expected during the Lenten season.
This highest alert level requires that uniformed personnel of the AFP, BFP, PCG, and PNP, along with representatives of the departments of the interior and local government, social welfare, health, agriculture, education, public works, and energy, and other identified agencies, deploy DDOs to the NDRRMOC to render 24-hour duty on a rotational basis.
Meanwhile, NDRRMC executive director and OCD administrator, USec. Ariel Nepomuceno has urged the public to exercise caution during this Lenten season.
“While our authorities are on alert, we ask our kababayans (fellow citizens) to prioritize their safety and act with discipline during this time of reflection. Your cooperation is essential for a peaceful observance of the Holy Week,” he said. (PNA)