Fewer buses to ply south Cebu on Good Friday

CEBU, Philippines — Commuters bound for their respective hometowns to spend the Holy Week holiday are advised to travel earlier in the week.

Cebu Provincial Bus and Mini-Bus Operators Cooperative Head Julieto Flores said most buses will stop operation by 1 p.m. on Good Friday.

But 80 buses will still operate to service south Cebu commuters.

Flores said though the buses are enough to ferry passengers to their destinations.

“Gamay ra ang padaganon nga bus ig Biernes Santo kay gamay ra man pud ang pasahero manakay ana,” he said.

He said the normal operation of the buses will resume at 3 a.m. on Black Saturday.

At least 200 buses operate at the Cebu South Bus Terminal.

With the anticipated influx of passengers, security at the terminal is on heightened alert status for the Holy Week.

Jonathan Tumulak, CSBT security management head, said they are strictly implementing maximum security and beefing up their monitoring to ensure the safety of the public.

He said all security and safety personnel are closely monitoring the situation at the terminal to guarantee immediate response to any untoward incidents within the premises during the holiday period.

He said additional security personnel from the Philippine National Police and Armed Forces of the Philippines will be deployed at the terminal starting Holy Wednesday.

Over 100 Capitol personnel will also augment security at CSBT to help immediately respond to emergencies and requests of those who would be leaving the city.

Tumulak said bus operators and drivers, porters, and terminal vendors were already oriented on the terminal’s security measures.

They were urged to immediately report to authorities the presence of suspicious-looking men or belongings.

"If makadawat og report dili mo cause og panic, kalma lang unya i-report,” Tumulak said.

To ensure the vehicles’ road worthiness, Land Transportation Office -7 (LTO-7) Assistant Director Alita Pulga reminded the bus operators to check their buses before and during Holy Week to secure the safety of the passengers.

Pulga also advised the bus drivers to be fully alert to avoid road accidents.

She also advised all motorists and travelers to keep safe, follow all the rules and regulations as well as authorities, and remain calm and cool headed.

On the other hand, the Department of Transportation-Regional Management Council-7 has rolled out Oplan Byaheng Ligtas: Semana Santa 2018 last Thursday as part of the security measures for the holiday season.

Among the preparations is the issuance of special permits to buses and ships travelling outside their usual routes during the Holy Week by the Land Trasportation Franchising and Regulatory-7 and the Maritime Industry Authority-7.

Ahmed Cuizon, LTFRB-7 regional director, said they are expecting a surge of arrivals to Cebu owing to the impending closure of Borocay, a popular beach destination in Malay, Aklan, in light of environmental concerns.

"We expect an influx of local and foreign tourists in Cebu due to the impending closure of Boracay," he said. — KBQ (FREEMAN)