With millions of devotees and tourists expected to converge in the Pilgrimage Capital of the Country for the upcoming Peñafrancia Festival, the City Government of Naga has formally activated its Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and Incident Management Team (IMT) to secure all events for the festival.
In Executive Order No. 036, series of 2026, signed by Mayor Leni Robredo, the city underscored Presidential Executive Order No. 155, s. 2019, which mandates that all programs and activities during the festival must be conducted in an atmosphere of peace and order, preserving the solemnity and nature of the celebration.
To safeguard the influx of locals and pilgrims, the EOC and IMT will provide a centralized means of authority and information to ensure seamless multi-agency coordination and real-time communication on the ground.
The IMT operates under a Unified Command including city officials and local authorities alongside representatives from the Archdiocese of Caceres, bridging executive authorities and church leaders to manage public safety during high-stakes religious events like the Traslación and the Fluvial Procession.
Meanwhile, the EOC functions as the central hub for situational awareness and rapid response coordination, maintaining open channels with local government departments, law enforcement, and National Government Agencies (NGAs).
By establishing a clear, multi-tiered response structure backed by designated task force leaders for traffic, security, search and rescue, water safety, and medical services, Naga City aims to guarantee that all festival traditions are executed with the utmost safety and solemnity.
Every September, the Peñafrancia Festival draws immense crowds of Catholic faithful who accompany the revered image of the Ina, Our Lady of Peñafrancia, through the historic streets and riverways of Naga. Given the sheer scale of the historic celebration and being recognized as one of the largest Marian pilgrimages in Asia—the city government’s proactive activation of structured command centers and specialized task forces remains critical in balancing the vibrant cultural revelry with absolute public security. | via Maida Boragay
