Vehicles barred entry to north bus terminal

Private vehicles, taxis and passenger jeepneys won’t be allowed to enter the Cebu North Bus terminal in Mandaue City starting tomorrow morning to decongest the area and expedite the entry of passengers headed to the province for the Holy Week break.

Passengers can enter through the center gate, where railings will be set up to ensure that people fall in line and undergo bag inspection.

Nemesio Lumapac, bus terminal supervisor, said the entrance and exit gates will only be opened when a bus enters or leaves the terminal.

Private vehicles, taxis and other passenger vehicles can only unload passengers outside the terminal.

Priority numbers will also be distributed to passengers to avoid people scrambling in securing a seat on the bus.

Lumapac said this policy was tried successfully during the All Saints and All Souls’ Day as well as the Christmas holidays.

Lumapac said Mandaue City policemen are deployed in three shifts at the terminal for 24 hours starting Monday along with bomb sniffing dogs.

Random inspections by SWAT teams will keep out criminal elements, he said.

The Coast Guard-Cebu station designated its personnel to conduct random inspections of vessels.

Coast Guard-7 commander Weniel Azcuna said he had a dialogue with ship owners and asked them to ensure the safety of their pasengers by not loading their vessels beyond their capacity.

He said they will enforce a “no ticket, no boarding” policy for passengers. “We will not hesitate to detain vessels who are non-compliance to maritime safety.” Azcuna said.

Azcuna advised passengers to be at the terminal two to three hours before their departure time is scheduled.

Help desks are also designated at key areas to help passengers, he told reporters. Correspondents Fe Marie Dumaboc and Christine Emily L. Pantaleon