• THERESA MAE DULMAN
Bacolod City will be placed under a red alert status starting Thursday, April 2, in preparation for the peak of the Holy Week observance.
The Bacolod City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (DRRMO) head Dr. Anna Maria Laarni Pornan said that the emergency response team will be deployed from Thursday to Sunday.
Pornan also urged barangay responders to be on guard during the expected influx of people in religious sites and resorts in the city.
She is also calling on resort owners to have standby lifeguards and first aid responders on site, as it is a strict requirement.
Under the red alert status, the DRRMO Emergency Operations Center will be fully activated, ensuring that all emergency response clusters are on 24/7 standby for immediate deployment.
Mayor Greg Gasataya said the DRRMO have coordinated with the Bacolod police and traffic management units to ensure a peaceful and orderly holiday.
The city government has authorized the temporary full road closure of Rizal Street, from the corners of Gatuslao to San Juan Streets, starting at 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 2, 3 p.m. on April 3, 7 p.m. on April 4, and 4 a.m. on April 5 for the scheduled Lenten activities of the San Sebastian Cathedral Parish.*
