The Minister of the Presidency, Interior, Social Dialogue, and Administrative Simplification, Antonio Sanz, attended the General Assembly of the Rocío Brotherhoods in the town of El Rocío in Almonte (Huelva), along with the president of the Matriz Brotherhood, Santiago Padilla, and the mayor of Almonte, Francisco Bella. He emphasized the commitment of the Matriz Brotherhood and its branches to the Romero Plan.
During this annual meeting with the Matriz Brotherhood and representatives of the 127 brotherhoods, Antonio Sanz announced that everything is ready for the activation of the Romero 2025 Plan on June 2nd, the security operation planned under the Territorial Plan for Civil Protection Emergencies in Andalusia, to prevent risks and respond to any incidents that may occur during the Rocío Pilgrimage.
The Junta de Andalucía’s commitment to the safety of pilgrims was highlighted by the Minister: «Once again, the commitment of the Andalusian Government to the Rocío movement is strong, as the Rocío is undoubtedly one of our greatest identity expressions.»
The 41st edition of the Romero Plan will involve over 7,000 personnel from all administrations, and the new Andalusian Emergency Agency (EMA) will lead the coordination of the operation: «With the strength of being the first agency in Spain in terms of members, innovation, and operational capacity,» noted Sanz, who also emphasized the importance of this operation, which is an international reference.
Personnel from 112, the Andalusian Emergency Group (GREA), and the Infoca Plan will operate in the Advanced Command Posts, while the unit of the National Police attached to the autonomous community will contribute 71 personnel to the Romero Plan, who will carry out actions related to environmental protection, consumption, assistance to individuals, care for minors, animal protection, and collaboration with the state security forces.
The Romero Plan will once again stand out for its intensive use of technologies applied to risk prevention, environmental protection, pilgrim safety, and animal welfare. The Minister of the Presidency explained that this year, the operation includes a new Citizen Attention Platform website that will provide maps, access to download the app, tips, real-time news, and an emergency map. Additionally, the Junta’s deployment will include drones, GPS tracking devices, cartographic viewer available to emergency personnel to facilitate access and care for pilgrims at any point along the paths, satellite cameras, intelligent wifi for flow and capacity control, and drones, among other tools.
Likewise, the four deployments in Huelva, Seville, and Cádiz, as well as the Aldea, will have REJA (Digital Emergency Network of the Junta de Andalucía) dispatch units in all Advanced Command Posts and in the Aldea’s Cecopi. Es-Alert for mass messaging to mobile phones and the advanced mobile phone location system complete the list of instruments to harmonize celebration and security at this pilgrimage.
In terms of organization, the Minister announced the opening of a new path for mechanical traction from Palacio del Rey to the Fresa road. «These seven new kilometers will allow for smoother transit of mechanical traction vehicles heading directly to the Fresa road from the exit of Palacio, reducing interaction with pilgrims and thus increasing safety and environmental protection in the area.»
In Seville, the available surface area in the camping areas of Cruz del Ponce has tripled; while in Cádiz, the Unified Command Post in Bajo de Guía, which has yielded excellent coordination results in the past two years, is being reissued.
Regarding Huelva, Antonio Sanz emphasized the speed of the construction of the new Integrated Operational Coordination Center (Cecopi) in the Aldea: «The construction will be completed before the end of the year, a record time, considering that it was only last September when the first stone of this new infrastructure was laid.»
Appeal due to high risk of forest fires
The Minister of the Presidency pointed out that this year’s Rocío takes place during a period of high forest fire risk, so he made an appeal to pilgrims to «exercise caution as always to prevent fires.» The Romero Plan provides each brotherhood with fire extinguishers to quickly address any potential incidents. Additionally, the four Andalusian government deployments for this Rocío will involve up to 195 Infoca specialists per day.
In the operational area, the Romero Plan will have three helicopters and three planes in the area of influence. One helicopter for transport and extinguishing in the Brica de Madroñalejos, another in the Cedefo de Cabezudos, and another in Valverde del Camino in Huelva. Additionally, two land cargo planes at the Las Arenas base in Niebla (Huelva) and a coordination plane at the Seville Airport.
On land, the Romero Plan includes 17 surveillance posts, three support groups, eight fire trucks, two BRICA units, 15 specialist groups, and five operations technicians.
Almost 1,000 healthcare professionals
The Andalusian Health Service, through the Emergency Health Centers (CES 061) and Primary Care Emergency services, will once again ensure the healthcare of pilgrims and visitors. For this purpose, 13 assistance posts will be set up, eight mobile and five fixed: six in Seville, four in Huelva, and three in Cádiz. Additionally, the healthcare deployment will have access to a medicalized helicopter and 31 vehicles.
Healthcare personnel will work 12-hour shifts, including 180 shifts for Emergency physicians, six pediatricians, 12 traumatologists, 12 intensive care physicians, 15 radiology technician shifts, 182 nursing shifts, 120 Emergency Health Technician (EHT) shifts from 061, 132 externally contracted shifts, and 37 nursing assistant shifts.
The Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs will also reinforce the Health Centers in Almonte and Matalascañas, as well as the El Rocío Clinic.
In the Aldea, the Main Care Center, known as the Aldea Hospital, will be set up, with general medicine and pediatric consultations, a radiology and ultrasound unit, an observation unit, and a blood bank as a novelty.
«Due to the jubilee year, the mass will have increased attendance and will be moved to Paseo Marismeño, so the healthcare deployment at that point will be reinforced, as well as coordination with an on-site Command Post starting in the morning,» detailed Sanz. These two measures were traditionally taken at night for the procession, so this edition will advance their setup and assistance to early morning hours.
The Minister was accompanied at the event by the Vice Minister of the Presidency, Interior, Social Dialogue, and Administrative Simplification, Tomás Burgos; the Government Delegate of the Junta de Andalucía in Huelva, José Manuel Correa; and the President of the Huelva Provincial Council, David Toscano.