The Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) on Monday called on the Philippine National Police (PNP), Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), and all local government units (LGUs) to ensure a safe, orderly, and peaceful observance of Semana Santa 2026, emphasizing that a strong, visible, and coordinated presence on the ground is critical to deter criminal activity as millions of Filipinos travel, reflect, and gather with their families this Holy Week.
In his message, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. urged Filipinos to continue working together for the welfare of families, the strength of communities, and the realization of a more compassionate and prosperous Bagong Pilipinas.
In a memorandum, the DILG directed local chief executives (LCEs) to convene their Local Peace and Order Councils and relevant teams to ensure safe and reliable public transportation, emergency medical services, and other essential support systems, and to fully mobilize law and traffic enforcers, Barangay Peacekeeping Action Teams, public safety forces, medical personnel, and other force multipliers to secure hotspots and high-traffic areas.
The PNP will be on heightened alert throughout Holy Week, deploying more than 60,000 personnel nationwide, including close to 40,000 uniformed police officers and around 30,000 support and force multiplier units, focusing on transport hubs, major roads, and over 3,200 tourist and convergence areas, while the BFP is mobilizing around 40,000 firefighters under Code Red Alert nationwide to ensure immediate emergency response and intensified fire prevention in churches, transport terminals, and other areas of public convergence, with Oplan Semana Santa and Lakbay Alalay fully implemented.
The DILG underscored that beyond deployments and numbers, the goal is clear: every Filipino should be able to observe Semana Santa safely, travel with peace of mind, and return home to their families without harm.
Leave a Reply