Photo courtesy of the Department of Transportation.
MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has directed all its offices and attached agencies to be ready to assist motorists and travelers during the Holy Week break.
In a memorandum circular released to the media on Tuesday, the different attached agencies of DOTr were ordered to be on a heightened alert status from April 8 to April 25, 2019 “to ensure the safety, security, reliability, and comfort of passengers during the observation of Semana Santa 2019.”
“Wala nang mas mahalaga pa sa DOTr kundi ang kaligtasan at kapakanan ng ating mga pasahero,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said in a statement.
“Kaya naman inaatasan po natin ang lahat ng ating attached agencies na tiyakin sa abot nang makakaya ang ligtas at maginhawang biyahe ng ating mga kababayan sa kanilang pag-uwi sa probinsya o pagpunta sa bakasyunan ngayong Semana Santa,” he added.
Under a heightened alert status, the different member agencies are tasked to implement 24/7 operations of action centers to respond to accidents and security concerns.
Extra buses
For the expected influx of passengers during the Holy Week, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), for its part, is currently accepting special permits applications for additional provincial bus units.
As of March 25, the LTFRB said it has received 484 special permit applications for 1,133 bus units.
Twenty-five special permit applications for 58 bus units are set to be approved by the LTFRB.
The special permits will be effective from April 14 to 22, the LTFRB said.
“Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2019”
For the implementation of the “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2019,” Tugade has also ordered the DOTr’s attached agencies to ensure that all booths, counters, or centers in airports, bus terminals and ports are properly manned “to lessen or prevent heavy queueing.”
The agencies’ “Malasakit Help Centers” would also be open 24/7 and will extend emergency medical assistance, food, and free calls on landlines and cellphones for stranded passengers.
Tight security
The DOTr appealed to the public to be patient with the heightened security measures to be implemented during the Holy Week break.
It also asked travelers to abide by the security measures to ensure a safe and comfortable travel during the break. / gsg