By CESAR JOLITO III

Emergency responders have been placed on blue alert status ahead of the Panaad sa Negros Festival, with a heightened readiness set to take effect starting Friday, April 10.

In a memorandum, the Negros Occidental Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) announced that its Emergency Operations Center will be on blue alert from 8:00 a.m. today until 8:00 a.m. on April 20.

The move is in preparation for the weeklong festival scheduled from April 13 to 19, which is expected to draw large crowds from across the province and visiting tourists.

Under blue alert, disaster response units are placed on standby for possible incidents, ensuring rapid mobilization if needed.

Authorities said an incident management team will be deployed throughout the duration of the festivities to oversee safety and coordination efforts.

City and municipal disaster risk reduction offices have also been instructed to position responders at their respective pavilions inside the Panaad Park and Stadium to ensure immediate assistance during events.

Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, who chairs the PDRRMC, emphasized the importance of preparedness to guarantee a safe and orderly celebration of one of the province’s biggest cultural events.

Meanwhile, the Emergency Operations Center will maintain its red alert status for monitoring activities related to Kanlaon Volcano, which remains under Alert Level 2 due to ongoing unrest.

The public was assured that all necessary measures are in place to manage both festival-related concerns and volcanic activity, urging cooperation to ensure public safety during the celebrations./CJ, WDJ