MANILA (Philippine News Agency) — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and local government units (LGUs) of Metro Manila will deploy a Metro Manila Public Safety Legion to ensure the safety of millions of participants who are expected to join the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) centennial anniversary on July 27 at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino announced Wednesday that the legion will be composed of traffic enforcers, rescue personnel, policemen, with their necessary equipment in tow, of the 17 LGUs comprising Metro Manila.
“The mission of the Public Safety Legion is to maintain peace and order, implement a comprehensive traffic management plan during the INC event, and do post-activity cleanup at the site,” Tolentino said.
The organization of the legion was formally agreed upon by the Metro Manila Council (MMC) through Resolution Number 14-010 in a meeting held Tuesday. The MMC is composed of the 17 mayors of the National Capital Region.
Under the resolution, each Metro Manila LGU will send 50 traffic enforcers, at least three to five police mobile cars with crew, three ambulances, and two dump trucks. This is in addition to the 500 traffic personnel the MMDA will deploy to assist delegates coming to and from the venue.
The contingent will be dispatched on the morning of July 26 and will be on duty until the evening of July 27.
They will work in close coordination with the Task Force Sentenaryo, of which Tolentino also heads per Memorandum Circular Number 6 issued by President Benigno S. Aquino III, and the Northern Regional Command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines.
The MMDA will also deploy its own rescue teams, mobile patrol and motorcycle units, and personnel from the Metro Parkways Clearing Group and Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group to strategic locations.
The Public Safety Legion is similar to the Metro Manila Rescue Legion which the MMC sent to Tacloban last November in the aftermath of super typhoon Yolanda to help in the recovery and rehabilitation of the city. (PNA)