DOTC pulls all stops for safe feast of the dead

Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is putting in place extra facilities and services and deploying a contingency force to ensure safe travel and adequate transport alternatives with the expected heavy influx of travelers during the long weekend observance of the feast of the dead.

Under its “Ligtas na Undas” (A Safe Feast of the Dead), the DOTC said it was fielding additional personnel for security and traffic assistance, including medical aides, in anticipation of the traditionally heavy cross-country travel which peaks on November 1, All Saint’s Day.

“We want to make sure the Filipino people can observe the occasion in remembering their departed ones in the most safe and convenient manner,” said Transportation Secretary Manuel Roxas.

Five key areas

The program covers five key areas: ensuring the availability of  transport such as additional buses, more flight and ship schedules; safety measures enforced by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) for sea travel and the Land Transportation Office/Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for road travel; security policies in bus terminals, ports and airports; convenience to travelers by temporarily augmenting facilities in bus terminals and ports; and ensuring the responsiveness of the agencies concerned in emergencies.

The secretary said that five helicopters from the private sector will also be on standby at the passenger terminals and transport holding bays in case any rescue operation will be needed.

Roxas’ office will also field K-9 teams, covert security and intelligence personnel, security and inspection staff, duty and nonduty officers, and help desk aides in various ports. Philippine National Police (PNP) personnel will also be fielded as bus marshals. Personnel manning the x-ray machines at airport security checkpoints will also be augmented.

Sea travel

For sea travel, the PCG and Marina will be enforcing additional inspection procedures for vessels’ seaworthiness and ensure against overloading.

Some 1,600 additional seats will be provided at the North Harbor for passenger convenience in waiting areas.

The PCG will deploy additional safety inspectors on commercial ships.

Bus terminals have been asked to provide additional help desks with medical assistance, tents and seats in their waiting areas for passenger comfort. To cater for more travelers going back to their hometowns, application for special bus permits that will allow buses to ply unusual routes increased to 746 buses, up from 305 permits filed in the same period last year.

There will be continuous inspection of all the stations and tracks of Light Rail Transit, Metro Rail Transit and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) for any technical problems and for security.

Seventy-five “track walkers” will be assigned at the PNR to ensure the safety of train operations. Thorough inspection of rolling stock after arrival and departure will also be conducted.

At the North Luzon Expressway, the Manila North Tollways Corp. is deploying patrol vehicles, lane management staff, and motorcycle riders for additional assistance to passengers.

Tow trucks

Tow trucks will be stationed at San Simon and Angeles in Pampanga. In order to ease traffic, two counter-flow lanes in Tarlac, two manual lanes in San Miguel in Bulacan, five manual lanes and two counterflow lanes in Mabalacat, Pampanga, and two manual lanes in Tipo (Subic) will be opened.

At the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road tollway, additional traffic workforce will include patrol crews, patrol vehicles and motorcycle riders. Towing services with auto mechanics and security personnel will be assigned at the Manila Cavite Expressway.

Ambulant tellers and other additional patrol crew will also be watching over the Skyway.

Airport authorities yesterday assured the public that security preparations are in place to address the expected influx of passengers.

The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) said additional security forces have been deployed at the checkpoints of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport’s (Naia) four terminals.

Personnel from the PNP, airport operations assistants and medical staff will be on hand. At the Naia Terminal 3, an additional 100 seats will be provided. There will be increased airport police visibility around the terminals, along with K-9 units.

“We are ready for All Saint’s and All Soul’s Days. Every detail of the contingency plans was discussed to make the long weekend peaceful and orderly in our turf and nearby places,” said MIAA general manager Jose Angel Honrado.

To speed up passenger processing, more security screening checkpoints will be set up and more check-in counters will be opened.

Within the airport terminals, “one-stop help desks” will be established to assist, provide information or address complaints or queries of passengers.

Meanwhile, Philippine Airlines (PAL) said it was increasing flight frequencies to 11 domestic and two regional destinations in preparation for two long weekends (Oct. 29 to Nov. 1 and Nov. 5-7).

These domestic points are Bacolod, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Cotabato, Davao, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Kalibo, Ozamiz, Tagbilaran and Zamboanga; while the regional routes are Hong Kong and Singapore.

PAL said it expects a similar passenger influx in the weekend following the feast of the dead after Malacañang declared Nov. 7 a holiday in celebration of the Muslim  Eid’l Adha, or the “Festival of Sacrifice.” With a report from Tina G. Santos