‘Public safety legion’ for INC centennial

MANILA, Philippines – Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will be sending a “public safety legion” to ensure security and safety during the Iglesia ni Cristo (INC) centennial anniversary on July 27.

In a statement on Wednesday, July 9, the MMDA said the “legion” will be composed of traffic traffic enforcers, rescue personnel, and policemen. The personnel will also have with them equipment from the 17 Metro Manila LGUs.

The INC centennial celebration is expected to be massive and bigger than previous INC anniversary events.

Malacañang, in fact, has created a high-level task force for this called Task Force Sentenaryo (Centennial), which will have among its members Cabinet officials and the military and police chiefs.

The Palace has described the influential INC as “the largest home-grown Christian church in the Philippines, with ministries in at least 102 countries.”

Each LGU will be sending 50 traffic enforcers, 3 to 5 mobile cars and their crew, 3 ambulances, and 2 dump trucks, based on a resolution penned by the Metro Manila Council during a Tuesday, July 8, meeting.

The MMDA will also send 500 traffic personnel to the event at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan. “The mission of the Public Safety Legion is to maintain peace and order, implement a comprehensive traffic management plan during the INC event, and do post-activity cleanup at the site,” said MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino.

Metro Manila’s public safety legion will be deployed on July 26 in the morning and will be on duty until the evening of July 27, said the MMDA. The legion will work with Task Force Sentenaryo.

Rescue teams, mobile patrol and motorcycle units, and the Metro Parkways Clearing Group and Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group will also be deployed by the MMDA. – Bea Cupin/Rappler.com