The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) announced Wednesday that its operations center and all regional offices have been placed on heightened alert to ensure public safety during Holy Week.
“The Office of Civil Defense (OCD) regional offices, along with the Regional Disaster Risk Reduction 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,” it said in a statement.
As of 6 p.m. Tuesday, a “blue alert” has been raised for the NDRRMOC and the following regions: Cordillera, Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Central Luzon, Calabarzon, Mimaropa, Central and Eastern Visayas, Zamboanga Peninsula, Northern Mindanao, Davao Region, Soccsksargen, Caraga, and the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao.
The National Capital Region will be on "blue alert" from 5 p.m. Wednesday until 8 a.m. on April 21.
Under the “blue alert” status, the OCD said 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 deploy detailed duty officers (DDOs) to the NDRRMOC for 24-hour duty on a rotational basis.
Bicol and Western Visayas are currently on red alert due to potential threats from Mt. Mayon and Mt. Kanlaon, respectively, as well as other weather disturbances expected during the Lenten season.
The “red alert” status is the highest level of alert activated to address an ongoing or imminent emergency situation, requiring response agency staffing at the NDRRMOC and immediate interagency coordination.
Under this alert level, uniformed personnel from the AFP, BFP, PCG, and PNP, along with representatives from the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Health (DOH), Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Education (DepEd), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Energy (DOE), and other identified agencies will deploy DDOs at the NDRRMOC to render 24-hour duty on a rotational basis.
Meanwhile, NDRRMC Executive Director and OCD Administrator Undersecretary Ariel Nepomuceno urged the public to remain cautious during the Lenten season.
“While our authorities are on alert, we ask our kababayans 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,” Nepomuceno said.
As of the present, the OCD reported that thousands of passengers are traveling through airports, bus terminals, and seaports to take advantage of the Holy Week break.