GENERAL SANTOS CITY -- Police have intensified security operations in line with the formal opening on Thursday of the 2018 Kalilangan Festival and the city’s 79th foundation anniversary celebration.
Chief Insp. Jovenson Bayona, spokesperson for the city police office, said all their units have been placed under heightened alert to ensure the safe and smooth and orderly conduct of the festivities, which will run until Feb. 27.
He said their personnel are also on full deployment in various strategic areas in city for the entire duration of the festival.
These included the security checkpoints in the city’s key road networks as well as the four main entry and exit points, he said.
“We have deployed a total of 2,327 security personnel, including force multipliers,” Bayona told reporters.
Aside from police personnel, the festival’s security team includes elements from the Army-led Joint Task Force GenSan, city civil security unit personnel and barangay peacekeeping volunteers.
On Wednesday, the Police Regional Office (PRO)-12 turned over 10 motorcycles to the city police to augment its patrol units.
The brand new 135cc Kawasaki Rouser motorcycles were distributed to the city police headquarters and the seven city police stations.
These motorcycles were part of the 16 units acquired by PRO-12 for police units in this city, Tacurong City and Cotabato City.
As part of the festival’s security plan, the local government has installed security cameras in parts of the city’s oval plaza, which is the main venue of the activities.
Bayona said the carrying of back packs and bladed weapons would be banned anew at the oval plaza.
“We advise our students to leave their backpacks at home before going to the oval plaza as we don’t have baggage counters for them,” he said.
Meantime, performances from celebrity artists Jonalyn Viray and Marcelito Pomoy as well as local musical and cultural groups will spice up the festival’s grand opening on Thursday night.
The other featured performers are the Kuerdas band, Mindanao State University’s (MSU) Kabpapagariya Ensemble, Teatro Ambahanon, Kulintayaw Cultural Repertoire, Step One Dance GenSan, Special Program for the Arts of Labangal National High School, Holy Trinity College Baile Real Dance Troupe and Cheerleading Team, Spacebar, Fashion Designers Guild of GenSan, General Santos City Elementary School for the Arts, Friends of Saint Dominic GenSan Chorale and Madayaw Dabaw.
A carnival, flea market and food strip initially opened last week at the city’s oval plaza as part of the festivities.
Daily cultural and entertainment shows were lined up until the culmination of the festival on Feb. 27, which is the city’s 79th foundation day.(PNA)
