Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 27) – Authorities are set to hold a last-minute inspection of venues and review their security operations as part of their dry-run on Thursday, two days ahead of the opening ceremony of the 2019 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) bared Wednesday that they will fine-tune their security protocols for one last time on the competition venues, areas of accommodation, and even potential commercial establishments near the delegates to ensure their safety in the upcoming event.
“May 27,000 pulis na nakatalaga para magbigay ng seguridad sa lahat ng mga venues, accommodations, maging mga commercial establishments na maaari nilang pasyalan,” PNP spokesperson PBGen. Bernard Banac said in a media briefing with the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG).
[Translation: There are 27,000 police officers stationed to ensure security in all competition venues, accommodations, and even commercial establishments that the delegates may visit.]
Around 17,000 policemen will be deployed in Metro Manila alone where 19 games will be conducted.
No signal jamming, special lanes for delegates so far
The PNP previously held a simulation exercise on November 14, but they have yet to finalize potential changes in scenario involving the transportation of visiting countries to and from the competition venues.
“Nagkaroon na ng dry run ng movement last week (We already had a dry run of our movement last week). Aantabayanan na lang natin ang (We just have to monitor) updates if we will continue the stop-and-go scheme or [designate] special lanes for delegates,” Banac said, noting that the stop-and-go scheme will still be applied unless the Philippine Southeast Asian Games Organizing Committee (PHISGOC) announces changes in traffic management.
“Patuloy pa rin ang planning ng organizing committee. Sa ngayon, ‘yun pa ring stop-and-go scheme ang ating huling ni-rehearse,” Banac said.
[Translation: The planning of the organizing committee continues. For now, we’ve last rehearsed the implementation of the stop-and-go scheme.]
He noted that the implementation of special lanes along EDSA for the participating teams is still being studied by the committee.
“Isang suhestyon ‘yan na naikonsidera ng organizing committee. Pinag-aaralan pa kung ito ay i-a-adopt kagaya ng mga events natin na APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation) at ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Summit dito,” Banac added.
[Translation: That is a suggestion being considered by the organizing committee. They are studying if they will adopt this scheme like what was done when the country hosted the APEC and ASEAN Summit.]
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Tuesday that the stop-and-go scheme will apply along EDSA and South Luzon Express Way (SLEX) from November 30 to December 11 for the conduct of the Games.
Authorities will also not be jamming signals during that time but said that they will consider doing so if the need arises.
‘Traffic management’ will be biggest challenge
Meanwhile, Banac admitted that managing heavy traffic will be the PNP’s biggest challenge the whole week that the delegates will be assisted for the SEA Games, a problem which had been the source of various logistical inconveniences for some international football teams during their arrival in the country.
“Ang challenge ay ‘yung makarating ang ating mga atleta sa destination, hindi maantala at makarating sila on time, so ang nakikita nating challenge talaga ay ‘yung bigat ng daloy ng trapiko,” the PNP spokesperson said.
[Translation: Our challenge is really to bring our athletes to their destination on time and without delays, so what we’re really seeing is the heavy flow of traffic.]
READ: PHISGOC apologizes as 2019 SEA Games hit with early complaints from competing football teams
The PNP announced that they will be primarily in charge of vehicle convoys that will bring the delegates to their rehearsal and competition venues starting November 30.
“Tayo po ay umaapela sa mga motorista ng kooperasyon, mahalaga na mag-give way po ‘pag nakarinig ng sirena galing sa security escorts, tumabi para di sila maantala sa kanilang schedules,” Banac said.
[Translation: we appeal to our motorists to cooperate and give way when they hear the siren from our security efforts so that the schedule of the delegates will not be affected.]
Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Usec. Jonathan Malaya said aside from the PNP, law enforcers from the MMDA, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Office of Civil Defense, and the Bureau of Fire Protection will coordinate with each other, as well as the local government units all throughout the event to look out for any untoward incidents.
“Kaagad-agad may focal person (There will be a focal person). That’s already an operation and we will continue the operation until the end of the SEA Games. The best that we can do is be prepared,” Malaya said.
He also stressed that authorities are “100 percent prepared” with security protocol to achieve the administration’s goal of “zero incidents” during the Games.
Even athletes themselves will not be spared from the law, especially the newly implemented vaping ban.
“Kung meron silang tanong, hindi naman masamang magtanong sa kanilang group leaders upang mabigyan ng proper guidance (if they have questions, it will not do them harm to ask questions from their group leaders so they can be given proper guidance),” Banac said.
The SEA Games’ opening ceremony will be on November 30. The 12-day event will formally close on December 11.
