By NITZ ARANCON
Correspondent
MAYOR Oscar Moreno yesterday formed a group that would monitor, quickly respond in case of emergency, and coordinate efforts to keep the city peaceful and orderly even as city hall anticipates more people to flock to cemeteries throughout the city today and tomorrow.
The Incident Management Team is headed by retired colonel Mario Verner Monsanto, overseer of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.
Monsanto’s team is composed of officials of the police, Roads and Traffic Administration, Bureau of Fire Protection, barangay officials, and various national government offices.
Moreno also ordered Allan Porcadilla, chief of the City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office to tap schools so they could send their Reserved Officers’ Training Corps to help out.
“We want to have a meaningful and peaceful observance of All Saints Day and All Souls’ Day, and make those who would go to cemeteries comfortable,” Moreno said.
Moreno said authorities would be strictly implementing rules in cemeteries. He said weapons, sound systems, and intoxicating drinks are strictly be prohibited in cemeteries.
He also called for public vigilance. “Kinahanglan nga mag-vigilant ang tanan, aron walay mabiktima sa mga bad elements,” said Moreno.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) has also gone strict with public vehicles. Since Oct. 28, the LTO has been inspecting vehicles at the terminals in Bulua and Agora, Lapasan.
Oscar Salcedo, LTO director for northern Mindanao, said his order was to inspect buses and even jeepneys to ensure that the vehicles are roadworthy.
Included in the ongoing inspections are signal lights, breaks, and other important parts of public vehicles.
Salcedo said the LTO would not allow overloading of passengers, and traffic law enforcers have been given instructions to check if the vehicles are covered by franchise, and if the drivers have valid driving licenses.
He said the LTO has also been checking the drivers themselves to make sure they are fit to drive.
Violations, he said, would mean grounding vehicles because the LTO does not want accidents to happen.
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