Peacekeepers from the local government units in Rizal province have teamed up with the provincial police force to make sure that the Holy Week vacationers and tourists are safe during their stay in the province.

In Tanay, Rizal, the office of Tanay Mayor Rafael “Lito” Tanjuatco said the town mayor, along with Vice Mayor Rex Manuel Tanjuatco, has been inspecting the “Lakbay Alalay” command posts in several areas in the municipality, where tourists converge including churches, religious sites and roads leading to restaurants and coffee shops. 

The command posts serve as emergency assistance desk to motorists, churchgoers doing the Visita Iglesia (church visitation), and tourists.

Tanay Mayor Lito Tanjuatco (in orange vest) visits one of the Lakbay Alalay booths in Tanay, Rizal (photo from Mayor Lito Tanjuatco's social media page) 

The municipal government has mobilized various auto-mechanic, vulcanizing shops and car repair shops as part of the “On Call Mekaniko” (on call mechanic) to help the motorists who would be needing the immediate assistance of an auto-mechanic or experts on emergency repairs of vehicles.

Tanay LGU personnel put up information materials for the On Call Mekaniko (photo from the Vice Mayor Tanjuatco's FB page)

Motorists assistance centers, manned by police personnel and local government unit’s peacekeepers and  Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (MDRRM) personnel and members of the civilian volunteer groups, have been set up at intersections and road sides leading to the tourist destinations in the town.

The Tanay municipal government’s social media pages have also posted the hotline numbers that the public may contact during emergency cases.

In Binangonan, Municipal Administrator Russel Callanta Ynares said MDRRM personnel, local government personnel and barangay tanods will continue to man the emergency assistance booths leading to several tourists spots and religious sites in the municipality until Sunday to ensure the immediate assistance, especially during emergency situations. 

Police said Good Friday activities in churches and religious sites, including the traditional Good Friday procession organized by the Saint Ursula Parish Church in Binangonan joined by hundreds of people, were generally peaceful.

Civic volunteer groups have been assisting the local government unit in Binangonan in the Lenten activities, according to Administrator Ynares.

The Rizal Police Provincial Office led by Col. Felipe Maraggun has also set up separate police assistance booths all over the province to assist the public on a round-the-clock basis during the Lenten Season.

Other local government units in the province have also put up road side tents to serve as emergency assistance booths for the public until Sunday.