Police make adjustments to ASEAN convoy routes

After identifying minor defects and problems during the dry-run for the convoys of the summit delegations the other day the police has started making adjustments to improve the system.

Police Regional Office-7 director, Silverio Alarcio Jr. told reporters that they have already identified glitches in the preparation but considered them "minor gaps."

He admitted that there were times when the convoy moved too slowly and some vehicles could not get into their positions on time, especially during the simulation of ferrying the delegates from from the Benito Ebuen Airbase.

The police who also headed the task force for traffic will tap volunteer traffic enforcers to help direct motorists to alternate routes to lessen traffic congestion.

Alarcio also asked ther Public Information Agency to ask airline companies and their ticketing outlets to inform their passengers about the scheduled traffic closure in some areas in Metro Cebu specially routes leading to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

He also reminded the people set to take flights to be at least two hours ahead of time before the closure of the ceremonial routes.

As to the complaint of transport groups about their losses with the road closures, Alarcio said that everyone must do sacrifices sometimes.

Aside from the minor adjustments, all task group commanders will conduct their own dry runs pertaining to their assigments. This individual dry runs, according to Alarcio, will not cause so much inconvenience to the public.

For now Alarcio said they already knew the arrival date of the delegates but not the exact time of their arrival. With this police cannot issue to the public the exact time the ceremonial routes will be closed for the convoy, but they promised to inform the public as soon they have the schedules. - Edwin Ian Melecio