Wazzup Pilipinas!
In preparation for the influx of
passengers during the observance of the Holy Week, Secretary Arthur Tugade
ordered the activation of Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Semana Santa 2017, and directed
all sectoral offices and attached agencies of the Department of Transportation
to be on heightened alert to ensure the safety and security of passengers in
airports, seaports, and other transportation hubs during the said season.
Secretary Tugade likewise enjoined all
frontline agencies to Implement a 24/7 operations for their Action / Operations
Centers and ensure direct communication lines with the DOTr Public Concerns
Action Center. Further, he instructed the same to ensure that all booths /
counters / centers serving passengers are properly manned during all operating
hours to prevent heavy queueing.
Road
Safety and Public Assistance
The Land Transportation and Franchising
Regulatory Board (LTFRB) will conduct an inspection of buses as part of
ensuring the road worthiness of vehicles and safety of the passengers. They
will also put up Help Desks at terminals.
Further, LTFRB issued 1,153 special
permits to bus operators to accommodate the increase number of passengers.
The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) will
deploy additional personnel at toll plazas where traffic build-up is expected.
If toll plaza queuing reaches 500 meters, reversible and additional entry or
exit lanes will be opened and vehicular counter flow may be facilitated.
Emergency medical teams, water trucks, and tow trucks will be deployed for
prompt response in case of road crashes and accidents.
Further, all road works and construction
activities in expressways, except ongoing major road infrastructure projects,
will be suspended from April 12 – 17.
Reducing
Airport Congestion
The Manila International Airport
Authority (MIAA) committed to assist the Bureau of Immigration in managing
queues at immigration counters. Passengers who are about to board and those
with connecting flights will be prioritized to avoid missed flights.
An MIAA Management Team will be on duty
from April 8 – 16 to ensure smooth passenger flow. A 2-minute unloading rule
will also be implemented to prevent congestion.
Passengers will be given free bottled
water at NAIA boarding gates. They may also seek assistance from Help Desks
manned by MIAA Operations group, airport police and medical team.
The Mactan Cebu Interantional Airport
Authority (MCIAA) also created a Task Force to direct and supervise security
and safety operations during Holy Week. The Airport Police Division will be
placed on red alert status, information and public assistance counters will be
activated, taxi complaint slips will be distributed to cab passengers, and convenience
of passengers will be ensured at all times.
Sec. Tugade directed the Office for
Transportation Security (OTS) to fully man all x-rays at the initial and final
cehcks.
Nationwide
Inspection of Passenger Ships
The Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA)
will conduct a nationwide random inspection of passenger ships from April 07 –
17 to ensure that applicable rules and regulations are complied with,
particularly the “No Overloading of Passengers and Cargoes” Policy. MARINA will
also ensure strict security protocols are being enforced.
The Philippine Ports Authority also
directed its port managers, cargo handling operators, and passenger terminal
building operators to ensure maximum security, safety, and convenience of
passengers. Passengers will be strictly screened while ship agents are required
to regularly update ship arrival and departure schedules. First aid services
will be made available in ports on a 24/7 schedule.
Yearly
Maintenance Works
All three metro rail systems --- LRT 1,
LRT 2, and MRT 3 --- will have no operations from April 13 – 16 to make way for
yearly maintenance work. Operations will resume on April 17, Monday.
Ross is known as the Pambansang Blogger ng Pilipinas - An Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Professional by profession and a Social Media Evangelist by heart.
