BAGUIO CITY – The newly-created executive committee for Oplan Kaluluwa 2017 met last week to prepare for the public’s annual trek to the city cemeteries and memorial parks on November 1 and 2.
Volunteer, medical, responders and communication groups, reservists, barangay officials, girl and boy scouts attended the meeting, as with City Treasurer Alex Cabarrubias, City Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Officer Yolanda Munar and representatives from the Permits and Licensing Office, Health Services Office (HSO) and City Environment and Parks Management Office (CEPMO).
City Administrator and presiding officer Carlos Canilao said coordination between and among all offices would improve all planned activities; cemetery clean-up before and after All Saints and All Souls Day, installation of portalets during the activity, designation of parking areas for medical and emergency service vehicles, assignment of selling areas at the Ganza parking, Burnham Park.
Members of the Public Order and Safety Division (POSD) may be posted in strategic places to prevent itinerant vendors within the cemetery, as with enforcers in exit areas.
Baguio City Police Office (BCPO) director Ramil Saculles also delivered insights as to improvement from last year’s activity; sharing of volunteer areas, the need for directional traffic signages to tourist areas, strict implementation of the no-parking scheme and traffic management within the cemetery, crowd control and additional parking and maneuvering space for ambulances in case of emergency.
According to Saculles, a walk-through which was done also last year, from the city cemetery’s entrance to exit would ascertain security assignment among the police and force multipliers.
A follow-up meeting is expected during the second week of October. /Julie G. Fianza