Volunteer groups and supporters of Vice President Leni Robredo are set to give her a protocol-compliant “highway welcome” when she visits Negros Occidental on Nov. 5, coinciding with the celebration of the Negros Liberation Day.
Laban Leni Negros Occidental (LLNO), one of the volunteer groups involved in the preparations, said the “highway welcome” will be a stationary caravan from Silay City to Talisay City.
The Vice President is also scheduled to pay courtesy calls on Bishop Patricio Buzon, Bacolod City Mayor Evelio Leonardia and Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson.
The original plan, which marked Bacolod City as the endpoint of the caravan, was modified due to the Alert Level 4 restrictions in the city.
The National Inter-Agency Task Force placed Bacolod under Alert Level 4 effective Nov. 1-14, forcing organizers, in view of the prohibition on mass gatherings and motorcades, to move key events of Robredo’s visit to areas under Alert Level 2. The NIATF placed Negros Occidental under Alert Level 2.
LLNO spokesperson Pinky Mirano-Ocampo said that they have been closely monitoring the situation and will “abide with LGU protocols”.
“But it’s still all systems go and we have measures in place to ensure that our volunteers will strictly adhere to basic health protocols,” Ocampo said.
“We are aiming for a thousand vehicles and we are close to that number,” she said, adding that all precautions, including fielding of marshals and medical teams, will be taken to maintain safety and order.
Former Negros Occidental governor Rafael Coscolluela, chair of the Negros for Leni (N4L) movement, said they have to revise their plans, including the transfer of key activities initially scheduled within Bacolod City, to other towns and cities.
Among others, the Vice President is scheduled to visit a project site visit and a People’s Assembly, in coordination with sectoral groups and communities. The number of participants has been reduced to follow IATF protocols, Coscolluela said.
“We are very pleased to see the whole-hearted participation of LLNO volunteers, our Negros for Leni team and many other groups involved in preparations for VP Leni’s visit,“ Coscolluela added. — GB
