CALAMBA CITY, Laguna – Some 21 non-government organizations (NGOs) have volunteered to participate in this city government’s “Summer Vacation (SUMVAC) 2018” operations from Holy Thursday (March 29) to Sunday (April 1) that is organizer by the city’s Public Order and Safety Office (POSO).
Jeffrey Rodriguez, officer-in-charge of POSO, said Monday the 21 NGOs would join Bureau of Fire Personnel (BFP), the Philippine National Police (PNP), City Health Office (CHO), among others, as SUMVAC volunteers.
He said the participating NGOs would be assigned in boundaries linking the city with its neighbors such as barangay San Cristobal in the North; Cabuyao City, Barangay Makiling in the South; Santo Tomas, Batangas and Barangay Bagong Kalsada in the West; and the town of Bay in the Southeast.
“Two groups will man the boundaries for two days only from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. unlike in the past where all groups are distributed a few distance apart from each other resulting in more traffic congestions rather than easing it,” Rodriguez said.
He said the NGOs manning the booths would provide traffic directions to tourists or pilgrims visiting churches this Holy Thursday and Good Friday and back from vacation on Sunday to their respective homes.
He added that rider groups would assist in emergency cases while the medical team of the BFP would be assigned in the South boundary.
Medical teams from the City Health Office (CHO) will man the other boundaries especially in the stretch of the highway traversing Barangays Bucal, Pansol and Bagong Kalsada which borders Los Baños, as these hot spring resort destinations experience a surge of people who go for swimming in hot springs or proceed to visit other churches in nearby towns in Laguna.
“We expect traffic congestions in the areas of spring resorts where there are 879 resorts in Pansol alone added with those in Barangays Bucal and Bagong Kalsada that may reach up to 1,200 resorts,” he said.
The 21 NGOs are divided into two groups each serving for two days.
“After the SUMVAC activity, we will give due recognition to those who have participated in the spirit of volunteerism,” Rodriguez said. (Zen Trinidad/PNA)
