Mayor Leni Robredo welcomed around 11,000 personnel of the Philippine National Police (PNP), together with other government agencies and volunteer groups, who gathered Thursday, September 10, for the multi-agency task group mustering and blessing of troops at the grounds of the Minor Basilica and National Shrine of Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Barangay Balatas.
Robredo expressed her gratitude to the peacekeepers who travelled from different parts of the Bicol Region to help ensure a solemn, safe and secure celebration of the Peñafrancia Fiesta, which formally begins today, September 11, with the Traslacion procession scheduled to start at noon.
The gathering, led by the Naga LGU, the Archdiocese of Caceres, the Emergency Operations Center-Incident Management Team (EOC-IMT), brought together PNP personnel from the six Bicol provinces, as well as the Bureau of Fire Protection, Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine Army, Bureau of Jail Management and Penology, and various volunteer groups.
The mustering showcased the personnel, resources and assets mobilized for the celebration, which is expected to draw around a million devotees, pilgrims, tourists and balikbayans to Naga.
Speaking before the mammoth gathering of peacekeepers and law enforcers, Robredo said 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 in our city,” Robredo said.
The mayor also said the peacekeepers would be included in prayers for their safety as they perform their duties throughout the festivities.
She prayed that no challenges would come before the city and its partners that they could not overcome during the celebration.
Robredo also thanked Archbishop Rex Andrew Alarcon, the Archdiocese of Caceres, stakeholders, volunteers and everyone working to make the Feast of Our Lady of Peñafrancia a safe, solemn and successful celebration. I via Jason B. Neola, CMO-Public Information Division head
