Aquino inspects ports, terminals ahead of All Saints’ Day

Aquino gives away rubber wrist bands to the province-bound passengers at a bus terminal along Buendia Avenue, Makati. MATIKAS SANTOS/INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines–President Benigno Aquino III was happy with the security preparations in major passenger terminals as he conducted an inspection Friday afternoon ahead of the expected exodus of people going to the provinces to visit their dead on All Saints’ Day.

“[Aquino] has seen that the preparations have been made to ensure the safe and comfortable travel of our countrymen going to their home towns,” Presidential spokesman Hermino Coloma told reporters in an ambush interview at a bus terminal in Pasay city.

Aquino first inspected the passenger terminal complex in Manila North Harbor and boarded a Visayas-bound vessel.

Coloma said that Aquino had an emergency exit lane cleared because passengers’ luggage had blocked it.

Aquino was happy with the new facility which allows travelers to sit in the spacious air-conditioned pre-departure area.

“There are no overcrowded areas and everyone is comfortable,” Coloma said.

Aquino also inspected the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 and made sure that the x-ray machines were functioning.

“He gave instructions for the deployment of more K-9 units as additional precaution and security measure,” Coloma said.

“Overall, the President was happy with what he saw,” he said.

During the inspection at the Terminal, Aquino ate Arroz Caldo inside a new lounge, which caused a slight delay in his inspection schedule, Coloma said.

Aquino’s last inspection was at two bus terminals at the Buendia-Taft intersection where he boarded the buses to check on the passengers.