In line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to ensure a safe and meaningful observance of Holy Week, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla urged the public to stay alert, especially in coastal and high-traffic areas, and assured that the unified 911 hotline is fully ready to respond to emergencies nationwide.

“I cannot emphasize this enough. Sa lahat ng manlalakbay, kung may emergency, tumawag kayo sa 911. Handa ang ating kapulisan at ang lahat ng ahensya ng gobyerno na rumesponde. Mula health, fire, public safety, handa po ang 911,” Remulla said during a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City.

He emphasized that as millions of Filipinos travel this Holy Week, what matters most is that help is immediate and accessible. The unified 911 hotline handles an average of 60,000 to 80,000 calls daily and maintains a response time of five minutes or less.

To ensure public safety on the ground, the Philippine National Police (PNP) has been placed under Full Alert Status from March 31 to April 5, 2026, deploying 98,636 personnel, supported by 12,507 augmentation units and 37,050 force multipliers nationwide.

The Philippine Coast Guard is also on full alert, with around 17,000 personnel deployed to secure airports, seaports, and transport terminals. Coast Guard vessels are strategically positioned to assist stranded passengers and respond to maritime emergencies.

“Kung may makita kayong emergency, napinsala o nakakasagabal sa byahe, tumawag kayo sa 911. Siguradong reresponde ang PNP at Coast Guard sa inyo,” the DILG Chief said.

Remulla stressed that strong coordination among national agencies, LGUs, and community responders is in place to ensure that Filipinos can travel, reflect, and return home safely this Semana Santa.