PRO8 meets with stakeholders, radio groups as preparation for pope’s visit next year

By RPCRD, Police Regional Office 8
October 23, 2014

CAMP RUPERTO K KANGLEON, Palo, Leyte – Police Regional Office 8 is initiating meetings with stakeholders, Brgy. officials, radio groups and set security plans for the coming of Pope Francis next year from January 15-19 to ensure the peace and order of the momentous event.

PRO8 Regional Director, PCSupt. Henry P. Losañes expresses his optimism that Pope’s Visit on January will be very peaceful and orderly one. He said that augmentation forces which are approximately three thousand PNP personnel to include personnel who are handling administrative functions will be deployed to secure the safety of the Pope and other visitors, both domestic and international. Aside from PNP personnel, force multipliers, radio groups, stakeholders and Brgy. officials are expected to help in the security preparations thru communication.

The PNP is helping in the mobilization of government resources to ensure the smooth and orderly visit of Pope Francis in the Philippines early next year. Series of coordinating meeting with stakeholders, radio groups, force multipliers and other Brgy. officials were initiated by the PNP for them to be mobilized during the Pope’s visit.

Prior to this, the National Government issued a Memorandum Circular 72 creating the Papal Visit 2015-National Organizing Committee (PV-NOC) for the state visit of the Roman Pontiff on January 15-19, 2015.

As instructed, all heads of the different government departments, local governments as well as the private sectors are encouraged to participate and coordinate all efforts to make sure that the visit of His Holiness in our country next year will be well organized and peaceful.

The PNP is tasked to take up all sectors participation and responses in connection with the visit of the Pope, and ensure efficient coordination among public and private sectors, particularly with peace and order; and the traffic management plan for the transportation of persons and goods during the event.

The Central Committee of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) is at the helm of managing and coordinating all religious and civil plans and activities of the Papal Visit.

There are two local Executive Committees – Execom-Manila and Execom-Leyte – in the areas of engagement of His Holiness Pope Francis. The Execoms will serve as the on-site full-time, day-to-day operations arms of the PV-NOC.

The Execom-Manila will be led by an Undersecretary in the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES). Its members will include the Undersecretaries of the DFA, DND, DILG, DPWH, DOH, DOTC, DOT, and PCOO; Chief of the Presidential Protocol Office; representatives from the OP, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), and MMDA; Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) General Manager; Presidential Security Group (PSG) Commander; and head of the Radio-Television Malacanang.

The Execom-Leyte, on the other hand, will be led by an Undersecretary in the OES with members including the Regional Director of the PNP, Commander of the AFP Central Command, Regional Directors of the DOTC and DPWH, PSG Security Task Action Group Commander-Leyte, and a representative from the Radio-Television Malacanang.