HOLY WEEK ALERT

EXPECT difficulty in passing through Manaoag town during the Holy Week as visitors constantly scramble for parking space for their vehicles.

This is the scenario that the Manaoag Police is grappling as they anticipate the arrival of thousands of Catholic pilgrims to pray at the newly proclaimed Minor Basilica of Manaoag.

Chief Inspector Edison Revita, chief of police of Manaoag, said because of the anticipated shortage of parking areas, he already asked officials of Army Camp Tito Abat to help alleviate the situation by allowing vehicles of out-of-town pilgrims to park in its premises.

He said since parking space at the back of the basilica is limited, he will ask owners of vacant lots around the basilica to open their property as pay parking areas this Holy Week but charge moderate fees.

The Barangay Peace-keeping Action Team (BPAT) has already been tapped to help the Manaoag police provide security to the pilgrims during the Holy Week.

The police chief projects more than one million pilgrims will visit the basilica during the whole Holy Week and to prepare for their arrival, the town’s policemen have been given proper orientation in handling tourists by the Department of Tourism.

Policemen will be patrolling the areas on bicycles.

Since the Manaoag Church’s proclamation as a Minor Basilica last Feb. 17, more people have been arriving to visit the Basilica.
“Now, it’s like Sunday every day,” said Revita, underscoring the large volume of people visiting their town daily, adding that the number will easily quadruple during the Holy Week.
Revita has also asked for augmentation force from various police units to ensure maintenance of peace and order in the town during the Holy Week. (Leonardo Micua/ Johanne Macob)

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