IT was almost a week now since Pope Francis left the country, but a lot of people are still amazed at the impressive display of discipline many Filipinos showed during his five-day visit.
Some may have been inconvenienced at the heavy security the Aquino government had imposed not only on the several venues where Pope Francis went but also on the routes where he and his entourage passed by.
But it was necessary not only to control the otherwise unruly crowd but also to eliminate potential threat to the security of the visiting Pontiff who braved the main thoroughfares just to be able to wave to the excited onlookers and well-wishers.
One could only just imagine the nightmare of managing a mammoth crowd of six or seven million people at the Quirino Grandstand. Any provocation, God forbid, could have resulted in millions of injuries, if not at all death.
But to our consolation, Pope Francis and the international media took notice and admired at how well behaved we were. Thanks to the numerous forces which rose to the challenge of keeping the peace and order wherever the Pope went.
For one, the Philippine National Police fielded some 25,000 policemen, while the Armed Forces of the Philippines provided 7,000 troops plus 5,000 reservists from all of its services, including ships, aircraft and equipment.
The Bureau of Fire Protection also fielded fire trucks and firemen to help in crowd control and emergency services. Even the Metro Manila Development Authority, too, fielded thousands of its personnel to man the smooth traffic to and from the venues.
Kudos should also be given to various government agencies, foremost of which is the Department of Health which partnered with Philippine Red Cross for putting up 20 medical aid stations with the necessary equipment in Luneta and other venues.
Even the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines coordinated all flight schedules in the airports, while the National Telecommunication Commission ensured that critical communications and messages were transmitted.
Of course, the list of those who should be given our thank-you note for staging a very successful visit of the People’s Pope is long and endless. The preparation and planning that begun as early as October last year really paid off.
Interior and Local Government Secretary Mar Roxas, a member of the national organizing committee for the Pope’s visit, attributed the success not only to the discipline every Filipino showed but also to our unity as a people.
Roxas, of course, should be given due credit as those critical agencies in charge of the peace and order preparation fall under his department. In fact, he made no fuss about his role but worked silently in keeping order in all of the routes and venues.
Not only did he conduct a “walk through” dry run of these papal venues and routes, Mar had also coordinated with government agencies, certain parts of the private sector, and the Roman Catholic Church throughout this near seamless exercise.
Roxas was right. Everyone deserves a big pat on the back, including himself! GLOCAL PINOY/FJ MAGLALANG
.. Continue: Remate.ph (source)
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