Aquino gets ‘Oplan Semana Santa’ going

MANILA, Philippines—The country is as ready for the annual diaspora of Holy Week, with government officials assuring President Benigno Aquino III that measures are in place to ensure that people are not only safe in their travels but also from threats of terror attacks during this most solemn—but excessively fun-filled—period of the Catholic liturgical year.

In an almost two-hourlong Palace briefing Tuesday, Mr. Aquino raised questions about the government’s contingency plans for the extended holiday weekend.

People crowd the bus terminal at Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City, for rides to Bicol, Visayas and Mindanao on Tuesday. Travel time on this bus bound for Roxas City in Capiz province and Iloilo City will take around 24 hours, including time on Ro-Ro ships, to reach its destination. LYN RILLON

Except for showing some irritation over the bus accidents, the President seemed generally satisfied with the preparations made by the police, military, Coast Guard, transport and disaster officials for the Holy week under a general contingency plan called “Oplan Semana Santa.”

He was particularly concerned about the conditions of buses and their drivers, and spent quite some time grilling transport officials on their preparations.

“I get really peeved when I see all these bus accidents, it’s been happening constantly ever since I assumed office. Brake failure, such a stupid excuse,” he said at the Premiere Guesthouse briefing which was open to the media.

A series of bus accidents occurred shortly after Mr. Aquino assumed office last June, including those in Toledo, Cebu province, and in Benguet province, in which several passengers were killed.

The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) Tuesday also said it will be providing first aid assistance and ambulance service on major roads during the Holy Week and Easter break.

Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Francis Tolentino said the MMDA expects some 60,000 to 70,000 vehicles would be traveling on Wednesday and Maundy Thursday on the Northern Luzon Expressway, and 180,000 vehicles on the Southern Luzon Expressway.

And from the Manila Domestic Airport’s regular weekly volume of 70,000 passengers, transport officials said they expect this week to see 170,000 passengers departing for the provinces.

Full alert

Benito Ramos, executive director of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, said various government agencies have been given their respective assignments.

The Philippine National Police (PNP) has been tasked to manage critical areas and chokepoints and will “increase police visibility and avert acts of terrorism.”

The Armed Forces (AFP) will play a supportive role to the PNP “in maintaining peace and order and ensuring safety in places of worship and tourist spots.”

The Philippine Coast Guard will put up passenger assistance centers for seagoing passengers while the Department of Health will keep public hospitals “in a high state of readiness” throughout the week.

The police has been on “full alert” status since April 16, according to Leocaldo Santiago, the PNP director for operations. He said security and public safety operations have been in place since last month.

Motorist assistance centers

All regional police offices have been directed to establish police assistance centers, motorist assistance centers and Lakbay Alalay tourist assistance centers, and secure and inspect seaports, airports and transport terminals, Santiago said.

He said the PNP’s major concerns are traffic congestion and accidents as well as criminal elements who might take advantage of the holidays.

In Metro Manila, Nicanor Bartolome, chief of the National Capital Region Police Office, said 5,572 policemen will be deployed for the duration of Oplan Semana Santa. This figure includes bus marshals and tourist police.

Bartolome said the contingency plan was activated last week as there were already a lot of people in the bus terminals leaving for the provinces.

Apart from supporting the PNP in maintaining peace and order nationwide, the AFP is preparing for contingencies like a possible terror attack by the extremist Abu Sayyaf Group (ASG), said deputy chief of staff Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Bautista.

Bautista said the ASG could launch retaliatory attacks after the series of arrests of key ASG members and the killing of three ASG personalities in Basilan province recently.

But Bautista clarified that there was no imminent threat of an ASG attack.

“We have not detected any threat but for contingency and planning purposes, we consider all possible threats,” he said.

In expressing his concern for people traveling by bus to the provinces, Mr. Aquino said it was also important to ensure not only the roadworthiness of buses but also the capability and competence of the bus drivers.

He noted that the Lenten season was a “bonanza period for all these transport companies” which field more trips resulting in overworked and tired bus drivers.

“Sometimes the major cause of accidents are the drivers,” he said, adding that authorities should be more thorough and strict in monitoring the industry during this period.

Lucas Cauton Jr., the head of the Transportation Security Office of the Department of Transportation and Communications, assured the President that the department has personnel attending to this and has even partnered with nongovernment organizations in monitoring the drivers.

Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus said his department has a land transport safety and investigation committee investigating accidents of public utility vehicles, which would allow authorities to “monitor in a systematic way the causes of these accidents.”

Mr. Aquino suggested that there should be two drivers provided for passenger buses plying long-haul trips.

“If there is no law, we draft [a bill]. Then we will ask the legislature [to pass it],” he said.

1st chapter in Boracay

“All PRC chapters are enjoined to be on standby 24/7 on Holy Week to provide first aid and medical assistance to possible road accidents that may occur,” PRC chair Richard Gordon said in a statement.

The PRC Safety Services Department has put up tents, help and welfare desks, and set up first aid stations along major highways and gasoline stations during the week.

Beach resorts and major tourist spots will also be the focus of PRC’s safety services with the setting up of beach patrol units and first aid stations.

Last week, the PRC opened its first chapter on Boracay island, the country’s premier beach destination.

The PRC Boracay-Malay Chapter is located on Main Road in Sitio Ambulong, Barangay Manoc Manoc in the central part of the island.

The PRC Boracay-Malay chapter will focus on the conduct of first aid, basic life support–cardiopulmonary resuscitation (BLS-CPR) and life guarding training, Gordon said.

“The law clearly states that all resorts in the country need life guards to look after the safety of the public. And since Boracay happens to be one of the most visited beach destinations in the Philippines, it is the perfect place to launch this initiative,” he said.

First aid stations

The PRC has also partnered with oil companies Chevron and Petron for the stationing of first aid stations and ambulances.

Chevron has designated 40 Caltex gas stations in Northern and Southern Luzon that will be manned by 107 Red Cross staff and volunteers with a first aid station and ambulance.

The PRC will provide ambulance service in Petron gasoline stations located in Marilao (NLEx northbound) and Balagtas (NLEx southbound) in Bulacan; Lakeshore, Pampanga (NLEx northbound); San Pedro, Laguna (SLEx southbound) and Batangas (Star Toll).

As of April 19, a total of 32 Red Cross chapters have been mobilized nationwide with 800 staff and volunteers to man 88 first aid stations, and 29 ambulances deployed. A total of six welfare desks and 24 beach patrol units have been set up.

The Manila Electric Co. has assured its 4.8 million customers that it will be providing 24-hour assistance during Holy Week. In case of an emergency, Meralco customers may call its 24-hour call center hotline at 16211. With reports from Jerome Aning and Amy R. Remo