In light of the recent events in North Cotabato, Lanao del Norte and Maasim, Sarangani Province, GenSan City Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr. called on an expanded Tri-Council Security Meeting yesterday (August 20th) afternoon at the Sydney Hotel.

In attendance were the city’s movers and shakers, business leaders, school heads, heads of government offices, leaders of the city’s indigenous tribes, military and police officials, members of the religious community and the media, among others.

PNP City Director PSSupt Robert Po, new Joint Task Force GenSan Cmdr. Col Leo Ferrer, Coast Guard Station Cmdr. Lt. Col. Charlie Rances and Naval Task Force Cmdr. Lt. Col. Raul Regis took turns in assuring the attendees on the city’s security preparedness in these times of uncertainty and briefing them on the real peace and order situation prevailing in the region.

EXPANDED TRI-COUNCIL SECURITY MEETING. GenSan City Mayor Pedro Acharon, Jr. (center) speaks to the 120 or so attendees of the expanded Tri-Council Security Meeting held on August 20, 2008 at the Sydney Hotel.  Photo also shows DILG City Director Rodolfo Bernardino,  Naval Task Force Chief Lt. Col. Raul Regis, Joint Task Force Commander Col. Leo Ferrer, Gensan Commander City Director Senior Superintendent Robert Po, and Coast Guard Station Commander Lt. Col. Charlie Rances. (GenSan CMO/avel manansala)

Mayor Acharon, for his part asked the public to remain calm and vigilant while discouraging them to forward unverified text messages which only contribute to the panic situation in the city.  He then proceeded to distribute an additional 20 handheld radio sets to the GenSan police donated by the Tuna Festival Council and the GSC Chamber of Commerce and Industy.

HANDHELD RADIO SETS FOR GENSAN POLICE. PNP City Director Sr/Inspector Robert Po receives 20 handheld radio sets from Mayor Jun Acharon donated by the Tuna Festival Council and the Gen. Santos City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc., represented by Tuna Festival Director Bebot Haw (exteme left).  The turnover was conducted during the expanded Tri-Council Security Meeting called by the mayor on August 20, 2008 at the Sydney Hotel.

The mayor also released the EMERGENCY HOTLINE Numbers to call for any eventuality:

Joint Task Force GenSan
Landline: 302-1671
Cell: 0928-4948121

Coast Guard
Landline: 301-2112
Cell: 0929-6864091; 0929-6742312

Philippine Navy
Cell: 0906-5097011

PNP
Landline: 117 (DILG)
Operations: 301-6728 (Radio Room)

City Disaster Coordinating Council
Landline: 552-3939; 301-2929

Bureau of Fire Protection (Fire Department)
Landline: 160

Delta 9 (City Hall)
Landline: 302-2309

By the way, I have created a widget box at the HOME PAGE of Bariles Republic containing these numbers.