Noy orders agencies to keep motorists safe this Lent

MANILA, Philippines – President Aquino has ordered the agencies concerned with road and travel safety to ensure that motorists will have a safe trip to and from the provinces during the Holy Week.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said the order was given to the Departments of Transportation and Communications, Interior and Local Government, Health, Public Works and Highways and Energy. It was also sent to the Toll Regulatory Board and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

He added the President also directed the agencies to secure all bus terminals, airports and seaports.

MMDA Chairman Emerson Carlos placed all personnel on high alert and canceled leave privileges to make sure all emergencies and calls for help are attended to.

He also reminded the public to allot time for delays amid an expected exodus of motorists and passengers from Holy Wednesday until Easter Sunday.

At least 2,000 constables are deployed in Metro Manila.

“We’re asking them if they can adjust and try to adapt their time of travel so they would not be going at the same time and congesting the roads...If they could give two hours allowance,” Carlos said.

He added that from 2 a.m. of Thursday to Sunday noon travelers should make room for sporadic road re-blocking operations along EDSA, especially at Connecticut to Boni Avenue for southbound traffic and Madison to Ortigas Avenue for northbound.

Coloma said in an interview over radio dzRB that constant and periodic inspections are done, not just by the assigned agencies, but by Aquino himself who has made it a yearly habit to check on all the ports and terminals and check on the seaworthiness of ships and airworthiness of aircraft. 

Travelers can also seek help from public assistance desks set up in all transport terminals.

At the Calabarzon, police regional spokesman Supt. Chitadel Gaoiran said at least 7,000 members of the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon police offices were deployed beginning yesterday for the Holy Week. Of the number, a total of 2,721 were tasked to concentrate on transport terminals.

Gaoiran added that 214 police assistance desks and centers were set up in religious sites and churches and in public and private resorts.

Meanwhile, the Philippine Red Cross also activated yesterday its annual Holy Week Safety Assistance Operation in bus terminals, airports and seaports.

PRC chairman Richard Gordon directed all chapters to mobilize its staff and volunteers from Wednesday to Sunday. – With Perseus Echeminada, Non Alquitran, Ed Amoroso