Police authorities in South Cotabato assured that all security measures are in place in line with the province’s week-long 18th T’nalak Festival and 51st foundation anniversary celebration that will formally open on Wednesday.
Sr. Supt. Franklin Alvero, South Cotabato police director, said Tuesday they have deployed enough security personnel in various strategic areas in the province to properly secure the lined up festivities, which are slated until July 18.
He said all police units within the province’s 10 towns and lone city remain on full alert in connection with the prevailing martial law in Mindanao.
Aside from police personnel, Alvero said the Army’s 27th Infantry Battalion has assigned security teams in Koronadal City, the main venue of the festivities.
The Police Regional Office 12 has augmented the area’s security with personnel from the Regional Public Safety Battalion and they also utilized members of the barangay peacekeeping action teams or BPATs as force multipliers, he said.
Owing to this, South Cotabato Gov. Daisy Avance-Fuentes said they have increased the budget for the security aspect of the festivities to P2.1 million from the initial P1.5 million.
The governor said the additional funding was set by the festival’s executive committee, which she heads, to accommodate additional security personnel.
“It will be used for thee food, necessary equipment and honorarium of our BPAT teams,” Fuentes said.
Under the festival’s security plan, all festival spectators will be required to carry identification cards for random inspections.
Such measure will be implemented in all entry points of the designated activity venues, especially at the South Cotabato Gymnasium and Cultural Center and the South Cotabato Sports Complex.
“We will strictly enforce the ‘no ID, no entry’ policy. Children may be exempted from the rule provided that their guardians or parents can present their IDs,” Alvero said.
Fuentes enjoined local residents and visitors to abide by the rules set by security personnel, specifically the “No ID, No Entry” policy and the ban on the carrying of backpacks in all festival venues.
“This is for the safety of everyone,” she said.(PNA)
