PNP targets zero major incidents in Kalibo festival

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

The Philippine National Police (PNP) is expecting zero major crime incidents in the celebration of Ati-Atihan festival in Kalibo, Aklan this January.

Site Task Group Ati-Atihan is tasked to provide security, public safety and emergency response for tourists and devotees of the most awaited festival in the region.

The festivities for the ‘Feast of Señor Santo Niño de Kalibo’ will start on January 2 to January 20, 2019.

On December 4, law enforcement agencies and the local festival organizer held its Atifest 2019 3rd Inter-Agency Coordinating conference at Camp Pastor Martelino to discuss the security and safety plans.

Aklan police director Senior Superintendent Lope Manlapaz is heading the security preparations for thousands of balikbayans and devotees in the festival. 

The major event security framework similar in hosting Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation summit will be used by STG Ati-Atihan.

Bulk of the personnel assigned to secure the festival venues will come from the Aklan Police Provincial Office (APPO) and the Philippine Army 12th Infantry Battalion.  

Force multipliers and emergency responders from Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, Municipal Auxiliary Police, Philippine National Red Cross Aklan Chapter and Saint Gabriel College EMS will be assisting the local police.

Fire trucks of the Bureau of Fire Protection-Kalibo will be deployed in strategic areas while cops will be placed in 23 assistance detachments to ensure a peaceful and orderly celebration of Ati-Atihan.  

Manlapaz said security personnel are also involved in securing the festivities in Kalibo Magsaysay Park, Kalibo Pastrana Park, Goding Ramos Park and Saint John the Baptist Church. 

Streets near the festival venues will be closed to vehicular traffic and checkpoints will be set up also in inner and outer borders to thwart crimes and violence around the town of Kalibo.