As Holy Week draws crowds to popular pilgrimage destinations, authorities in Cagayan de Oro City and Misamis Oriental are ramping up safety measures and assistance for the expected surge of devotees and tourists.
Nick Jabagat, head of the city’s disaster risk reduction office, reminded pilgrims heading to the Malasag Stations of the Cross in Cugman and the Our Lady of Guadalupe Shrine in Balubal to prepare for extreme heat, with temperatures expected to reach a 38°C heat index. He also urged visitors to wear protective clothing against insect bites.
The local government has established first aid stations along the 3-kilometer Malasag trek, which ends at the Chapel of the Birhen sa Medalya Milagrosa. Meanwhile, the Guadalupe Shrine pilgrimage route, known for its challenge and spiritual significance, involves either a 4.5-kilometer or 2.3-kilometer trek and includes nine river crossings and 75 steps leading to a hilltop chapel.
Safety measures such as rope lines and barangay watchmen have been deployed to assist devotees navigating the route.
In El Salvador City, crowd control measures and traffic regulations are in place around the Divine Mercy Shrine, a major pilgrimage site featuring a 50-foot statue of Jesus overlooking Macajalar Bay. The nine-hectare site, open since 2008, remains free to the public and relies solely on donations.
Other growing Holy Week destinations promoted by the Department of Tourism include the historic 1887 Immaculate Conception Church in Jasaan and the Miraculous Healing Water Pool in Binuangan, both of which have gained popularity for their religious and cultural significance.