‘Task Force Panagbenga’ formed to secure tourists, revellers during flower fest

BAGUIO CITY -- The Office of Civil Defense Cordillera has activated “Task Force Panagbenga” to deter possible threats and untoward incidents during the celebration of the annual flower festival.

 “The security and safety of the residents and visitors is everyone’s concern and should be taken seriously especially during high density population gatherings,” OCD-CAR regional director Albert Mogol said Wednesday.

 The task force was formed in the Jan. 31 inter-agency meeting attended by representatives from the Philippine National Police, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Department of Health, City Health Services Office, the National Intelligence Coordinating Agency and mostly members of the Cordillera Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council.

It will be on full alert from Feb. 1 to March 10, after the festival’s closing ceremony.

Mogol said the task force’s primary function is to monitor and do security coordination to ensure the public’s safety.

Aside from the Panagbenga revelries, Mogol said they are also gearing up for the Philippine Military Academy (PMA) alumni homecoming, which will be on February 16, when hundreds of military and police officers who graduated from the academy would arrive.

The two grand parades of the Panagbenga -- the street dancing and float parades on March 2 and 3, respectively-- are also historically crowd-drawers.

Prior to the activation, Mogol said the agencies discussed security and contingency plans for the upcoming events.

As a deterrent measure, he called on the public to be vigilant and report to the police any unusual events or happening which they may observe.

An Emergency Operation Center (EOC) will be established at the OCD for monitoring of the events from Feb. 1- March 10. -- PNA