By PNA and U.S. News Agency / Asian

The Albay Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) activated on Thursday its operation center in connection with the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day observance.

Albay Gov. Joey Salceda issued an advisory on Wednesday directing the provincial health authorities to be on high alert on a 24-hour basis.

The PDRRMC placed on standby several ambulances with paramedics for dispatch in times of emergency.

The Philippine National Police in Albay has set up police assistance centers in various public and private cemeteries across the province.

The police assistance centers would ensure that no untoward incidents would happen in cemeteries and churches where hundreds of people would converge, according to Police Supt. Renato Bataller, PNP Bicol spokesperson.

Army Col. Ricardo Visaya, commanding officer of the 901st Infantry Brigade here, said Army soldiers would continue with their regular patrol in remote villages.

Visaya directed his commanders that “maximum” tolerance would be carried out against communist insurgents visiting their dead in cemeteries provided that they do not carry firearms and create a situation that would disturb the two- day religious event.