CITY OF SAN FERNANDO – The city will be placed on “triple red alert” from October 30-November 2 in anticipation for “Undas” and preparation for Typhoon “Santi”.

In anticipation of the thousands of folks who would troop the city’s 12 cemeteries for “Undas” (All Saints’ Day) and in preparation for the possible onslaught of Typhoon Santi this weekend, the city will be placed on a heightened alert.

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In Thursday’s Oplan Kaluluwa 2009 conference at the City Hall, City Administrator Ferdinand Caylao said on top of the double red alert raised by the Philippine National Police (PNP), a heightened third alert will be observed by concerned City Government officials, agencies and barangay units following reports from the weather bureau and the National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) that Typhoon Santi will enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (AOR) by Friday afternoon.

Santi will move towards Central Luzon with sustained winds of 150 kilometers per hour (kph) and gustiness of up to 185 kph.

“We are all set for the observance of All Saints’ Day in the city and in all its 12 cemeteries. But we have made added preparations following reports that Typhoon Santi will make landfall this weekend and will directly hit us here in Pampanga. We are covering everything from security, peace and order, disaster response, health emergencies and waste management. Our Oplan Kaluluwa starts this Friday,” Caylao said.

He said all concerned units of the city will be on standby and monitoring status on a 24-hour basis to see that the observance of All Saints’ Day in the city goes on smoothly just like the previous years.

“We are deploying police personnel, barangay tanods, paramedics, the Oplan Habitat Taskforce, traffic enforcers, health workers and our General Services Office employees plus all the necessary equipment for the smooth implementation of Oplan Kaluluwa 2009,” he said.

All set

City Chief of Police Superintendent Benjamin Medina said some 170 uniformed and plainclothes officers will be deployed in the 12 cemeteries and around the city to ensure security and safety as well as order for those who will pay respects to their departed loved ones.

“We would just like to advice the public to refrain from bringing with them valuables like jewelry, stereos, laptops, expensive celfones and of course bladed weapons and alcohol. We will be confiscating weapons or any other deadly tools including intoxicating beverages,” he said.

But while the whole of the city police force, augmented by local barangay tanods would be participating in the PNP’s Oplan Kaluluwa 2009, Medina advices the public to visit the cemeteries on a shift basis so that homes are left unattended.

“We have patrols that will roam around the city and barangays but it would be best if someone still is left to man homes of our people for added safety. In any case, we have signs bearing police emergency numbers on them,” he said.

He said parking areas as well as traffic rerouting plans have been designated and will be implemented starting Halloween Saturday.

Kevin Ronquillo of the Traffic Management Department said steel barricades are being set up, with the corresponding signs and advisories to which alternative routes motorists and public utility vehicles will take.

Dr. Eloisa Aquino, City Health officer, said medical teams, will all emergency essentials plus a bed, will be set up in all the cemeteries to ensure emergency cases are attended to. She said these will be augmented by roving medical emergency teams around the city and inner barangays.

Caylao is also advising Fernandinos and visitors to the city to refrain from using non-reusable plastic materials on All Saints’ Day as this may compound the problem on waste and flooding with the advent of Typhoon Santi.

“It would be better for people to just pack their wares in newspapers and just bring enough food to the cemetery. We advice them to bring back home anything that cannot be recycled and not leave it in the cemeteries. We have advised vendors too during the All Saints’ Day tiangge of flowers and candles not to use plastic in wrapping flowers lest they will not be allowed to sell their wares or given vending space,” Caylao said.

Engineer Michael Quiazon of the city’s waste management unit said that during the entire weekend up to Monday, 39 street cleaners and three garbage compactors will secure proper waste management in streets and cemeteries.

“We would strictly implement the no littering ordinance and advice the public to bring home biodegradables and not use plastic or non-biodegradable containers and implements,” he said.