JOEL P. MAPILES
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO — Governor Lilia G. Pineda enjoined on Wednesday all local chief executives in Pampanga and the local police to ensure the road safety of the members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo in Pampanga and those coming from other provinces in Central and Northern Luzon who will attend their centennial celebration.
“All local elected officials in Pampanga are fully supporting the members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo who will attend the Centennial Celebration on July 27 to 29. We are committed to ensure their security and we will provide any necessary assistance,” Governor Pineda said.
This came as Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino, head of the Task Force Centenario tasked to oversee the centennial celebration of the Iglesia Ni Cristo came here on Wednesday to ask the local chief executives in Pampanga to assist the INC commuters who will use the main thoroughfares of the province especially the Jose Abad Santos Avenue (JASA) from Lubao, Guagua, Bacolor, this city up to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and those coming from the Northern part of Luzon.
Tolentino said at least 3 million of the INC’s members from around the world are expected to attend the event to be held at the Philippine Arena in Bocaue, Bulacan.
Police Superintendent Adriano Enoc, Oplan Centenario Task Force chief who accompanied the MMDA chair said, they are expecting more than 1,500 buses that will be coming from Central Luzon as the INC Church administration granted the request of the members to allow all those who want to attend the celebration,”
“We are thankful to Chairman Tolentino for his concern to our Cabalens who are INC members,” the governor said during a brief meeting yesterday here with the MMDA Chair attended by the Pampanga Mayors’ League and Vice Governor Dennis Pineda.
The governor said it is their responsibility and obligation to ensure the safety and attendance of the Kapampangan members of the INC on their “very special occasion”.
“Hindi na kailangan pa na pakiusapan ang mga opisyal ng Pampanga. Kailangan proteksyunan ang mga kababayan nating miembro ng Iglesia Ni Cristo. Kailangan ay maging masaya ang senteniyal ng Iglesia,” the governor said.
With the instruction of the governor, Vice Governor Dennis Pineda together with 4th District Board Member Ricardo Yabut, said they will put up Oplan Centenario Public Assistance Centers equipped with radio communications, ambulance, emergency kits and other supplies along the JASA road going to Bocaue, Bulacan to assist the INC members who will traverse the main road of the province for their protection and safety from July 25 to 29.
“We will also help in ensuring the security and traffic management preparations in our areas of jurisdiction,” the vice governor said.
The Vice Governor said they will ask the quarry truckers and operators to stop from operations and avoid hauling quarry materials to Metro Manila on the specified date to give way for the INC centennial.
The Pampanga Provincial Police Office (PPO) led by Senior Superintendent Marlon Madrid has also their own sets of plan for the travel safety and security of the INC delegation who will use the main roads of Pampanga.
The PML led by its President, Apalit Mayor Oscar Tetangco said they will help in putting up Public Assistance Center in their respective municipalities.
Other local executives who committed full support are Candaba Mayor Rene Maglanque, San Luis Mayor Venancio Macapagal, Arayat Mayor Emmanuel Aljandrino, Mexico Mayor Roy Manalastas, City of San Fernando Mayor Edwin Santiago, Angeles City Mayor Edgardo Pamintuan, Masantol Mayor Dan Guinto, Sasmuan Mayor Nardo Velasco, Guagua Mayor Dante Torres, Sta Rita Mayor Yolanda Pineda, Lubao Mayor Mylin Pineda, Porac Mayor Condralito dela Cruz, Mabalacat City Mayor Marino Morales, Minalin Mayor Edgardo Flores, Macabebe Mayor Annette Flores Balgan and Magalang Mayor Romulo Pecson.
