The City Government of Naga once again activated the Peñafrancia Joint Operations Center (PJOC) to ensure the smooth, secure, and solemn observance of the upcoming Peñafrancia Fiesta, one of Southeast Asia’s largest Marian festivals, drawing over a million devotees, pilgrims, tourists, members of the clergy, and government officials.
Mayor Leni Robredo issued Executive Order No. 020 reactivating the PJOC, which will serve as the central hub for coordination, communication, and control throughout the month-long religious celebration this September.
“The PJOC is reactivated because of the risks involved in the influx of visitors and pilgrims,” Robredo said, as she emphasized the need for an effective and efficient system to manage command, coordination, collaboration, and communication during the festivities.
The Peñafrancia Fiesta, traditionally hosted in Naga City as the convergence zone of devotion to Our Lady of Peñafrancia, is regarded as the fiesta of the entire Bicol Region. Its national significance was recognized through Presidential Executive Order No. 33, series of 2010, which declared Naga as the Pilgrimage Capital of the Philippines. The directive also mandates that all activities during the festival must be conducted in an atmosphere of peace and solemnity with full government support.
The PJOC will serve as a centralized focus of authority and information to ensure proper coordination among deployed personnel, prioritize resource allocation, and evaluate the need for additional support through mutual aid.
The executive order details a comprehensive organizational structure for the operations center, including the appointment of Joint Operations Center Responsible Officers, the Joint Operations Center Executive Committee, and the Inter-Agency Task Groups, all of whom are tasked with safeguarding the integrity, order, and spiritual character of the annual event. | via Jason B. Neola
