The Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Negros Oriental are on full alert and taking proactive measures to ensure public safety during the Holy Week observance this week, officials said.

Captain Stephen Jaynard Polinar, spokesperson of the Negros Oriental Police Provincial Office (NORPPO), said the police force is on full alert status starting Sunday evening.

“This means that no police personnel are allowed to go on leave, unless for a very valid reason, throughout the Holy Week, while police chiefs are mandated to be available 24/7,” Polinar told the Philippine News Agency in an interview.

Roughly 1,400 uniformed personnel are deployed for Oplan Semana Santa. Police chiefs are required to be accessible at all times, whether at police stations or during field inspections of checkpoints, police assistance desks, public transportation passenger terminals, and particularly at churches and other places of worship.

Police personnel are also monitoring resorts, ports and the airport in cooperation with other law enforcement agencies.

In a related development, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) in Negros Oriental has launched its campaign, “See Something, Say Something,” urging the public to be proactive and report violations immediately.

Lt. Marionne Abigail Enopia, Coast Guard Station Negros Oriental commander, said tarpaulins bearing vital information — such as various types of maritime-related violations, hotline numbers, and a QR code — are placed at strategic areas including ports, PCG substations and on board seacraft.

“This campaign will hasten our response time if the public cooperates by actively reporting violations and unsafe practices to prevent accidents and other untoward incidents,” Enopia said.

Enopia said the Coast Guard is also conducting daily monitoring of passenger influx to prevent overloading of commercial vessels in anticipation of travelers during the Holy Week and summer months. (PNA)