AROUND 11,000 security personnel, government responders, and volunteer groups assembled at the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia on Thursday, September 10, for a joint mustering and blessing of troops ahead of the annual Peñafrancia Fiesta.
The deployment brings together Philippine National Police (PNP) units from across the six Bicol provinces, alongside personnel from the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP), Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Philippine Army, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP), and various local volunteer organizations.
The combined force was organized through a joint effort by the Naga City Local Government Unit, the Archdiocese of Caceres, and the Emergency Operations Center-Incident Management Team (EOC-IMT).
The official festivities kick off today, September 11, marked by the traditional Traslacion procession starting at noon.
With nearly one million devotees, pilgrims, tourists, and returning overseas Filipinos expected to pour into the city, local authorities mobilized extensive assets and personnel to maintain order.
Addressing the assembled troops in Barangay Balatas, Naga City Mayor Leni Robredo highlighted the crucial role of multi-agency cooperation in managing an event of this scale.
“Naga City could not properly and adequately handle the huge celebration without the assistance of the volunteers and participating agencies. That is why I feel so honored to welcome you all to our city,” Robredo said.
Robredo extended her gratitude to the peacekeepers who traveled throughout the Bicol Region to secure the festivities, assuring the troops that their safety remains a top priority in the city’s prayers as they execute their security duties.
The former vice president also acknowledged Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon, the Archdiocese of Caceres, and community stakeholders for their coordinated efforts to ensure a peaceful, solemn, and orderly celebration.
