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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider PNP now on full alert; gov't agencies join forces for safe Holy Week travel

PNP now on full alert; gov't agencies join forces for safe Holy Week travel

Published Mar 31, 2026 03:02 pm
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon answers questions during the launching of safe Holy Week travel at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Also present were DILG Secretary Jonvic Reulla, DOTr Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez and PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. (photo: PNP)
DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon answers questions during the launching of safe Holy Week travel at Camp Crame in Quezon City on Tuesday, March 31, 2026. Also present were DILG Secretary Jonvic Reulla, DOTr Secretary Giovanni Z. Lopez and PNP chief Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr. (photo: PNP)
Police forces across the country were placed on the highest security alert status starting Tuesday March 31, to ensure maximum security coverage as millions of Filipinos travel and observe the Holy Week.
Gen. Jose Melencio C. Nartatez, Jr., chief of the Philippine National Police (PNP), said the declaration of full alert status comes with deploying additional policemen to secure transportation hubs, sites of religious activities, tourist spots and other places of convergence.
“The Philippine National Police is on full alert effective today (March 31) up to the culmination of the Holy Week on Monday (April 7),” said Nartatez in a press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
From almost 60,000 policemen, he said the number of police officers tapped for Holy Week security increased to 98,000, all of them were tasked to perform specific roles—from road safety to security.
“Actually, the 98,000 were already deployed for utilization for peace and order at the same time for emergency response and to ensure public safety. We are in constant coordination with the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and local government units,” said Nartatez.
Safe Holy Week
The declaration of full alert is part of the government’s efforts to ensure peaceful and orderly observance of the Holy Week according to Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla.
In a press briefing with other top officials of the government, Remulla said they want to help secure the annual religious activity in coordination with other concerned govern,ent agencies like the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
“We will be implementing various initiatives for safe travel and other activities during the Holy Week. We are working together to ensure the safety of everybody especially that we encounter several problems every year during the Holy Week,” said Remulla in the same press briefing.
Among those problems are road crashes and incidents of drowning.
“The number 1 cause of fatalities during Holy Week is public intoxication in beach areas. They will drink until 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. and they will go for a swim later. This is when the unfortunate incidents happen,” said Remulla.
As part of the safety measures, he said they coordinated with DOTr for the deployment of PCG personnel in beaches and resorts across the country where people usually go during Holy Week break.
Safe ride 
While road crashes are mostly blamed on motorists, Nartatez said there are also a number of instances that road conditions contributed to fatal road crashes during long rides.
“That is why we are coordinating with other government agencies like the DPWH in relation to this matter, to ensure the safety of our motorists,” said Nartatez.
He said the coordination included discussions on how the PNP, especially local police forces, could assist motorists in preventing road crashes relating to unsafe road conditions.
Tigil muna 
For his part, DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon said all road construction and improvement will be put on hold until April 6 to ensure unobstructed traffic flow for the Holy Week break.
Remulla, for his part, said LGUs were also instructed to clear all road obstructions to ensure motorists safety.

Related Tags

PNP full alert DILG DOTR DPWH Jonvic Remulla Vince Dizon Giovanni Lopez Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. Holy Week
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