MANILA, Philippines ? The Philippine National Police Monday deployed some 500 more patrol cars and motorcycles to beef up security in Metro Manila as people started leaving for the provinces for Holy Week.

PNP Chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said the move was part of their efforts to step up police visibility during the long vacation to make sure that houses left empty by vacationing residents would not be burglarized.

?We will guard against burglars, especially members of the Akyat Bahay gang, the houses of residents of Metro Manila who will leave town,? Razon said.

Malacañang earlier declared Maundy Thursday and Good Friday as holidays, which means that it would be a four-day weekend for the public.

The police would also guard vital installations, tourists? destinations, seaports, airports, bus terminals and other places where people were expected to gather, Razon said.

He added that police stations in Metro Manila would be given the primary responsibility of conducting preventive patrols and neighborhood watch to guard against criminals.

Razon said he had already ordered a deployment or ?downloading? of 90 percent of PNP personnel into the streets for police visibility and patrols.

?The PNP will put in measures to ensure the peace and order not only here in Metro Manila but in places where the public would be taking their vacation,? he said.

The PNP would also set up public assistance booths on major routes to tourist destinations. The booths, he said, would provide police assistance, vehicle emergency and medical assistance and information to local and foreign tourists.

?We are preparing security because not only local tourists will be having their vacation but foreigners as well,? Razon said. The security operations are part of the PNP?s ?Oplan Bantay-Lakbay.?

Razon led other police officials Monday in an inspection of bus terminals in Quezon City.

Quezon City Police District director, Senior Supt. Magtanggol Gatdula, said that they expect a maximum of 15,000 passengers a day to crowd into bus terminals to catch a ride to their provinces.

National Capital Region Police Office Director Geary Barias said they are implementing ?preventive actions? to deter criminals like holdup men and pickpockets in bus terminals.

In Pasay City, the police will also deploy more men to bus terminals in the city to guard those going home to their provinces.

Supt. Marietto Valerio, Pasay police chief, said his men would be in charge of assisting passengers and checking their luggage for any dangerous substances or weapons.

?We will have 80 additional cops manning the bus stations in the city beginning Wednesday, because that?s when we expect the crowds to flock to the terminals,? he said in a phone interview.

The deployment will concentrate mostly on the bus terminals in the Edsa Rotunda area and at the corner of Taft Avenue and Gil Puyat.

The Eastern Police District will likewise send out more men to the streets, particularly in residential areas, to guard against criminals who may break into empty houses.