All systems go for Holy Week

CEBU, Philippines- It’s all systems go for the three transport clusters of the Department of Transportation and Communication-Regional Management Council-7 in the observance of the Holy Week.

Dubbed as the “Oplan Ligtas Biyahe Semana Santa 2015,” the DOTC- RMC-7 headed by Nigel Paul Villarete conducted a meeting yesterday to finalize the preparations and to determine the actions being undertaken by the air, land and sea transport clusters.

For the land sector, the Land Transportation Office-7 and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-7 said that they are conducting bus inspections at the south and north bus terminals from April 1 to 3.

  “This is to ensure that there will be no overloading of passengers” said LTFRB-7 director Rey Elnar.

  LTO-7 director Arnel Tancinco said that since Thursday, they have been conducting road side inspection to ensure that buses are travelling in good condition.

 LTFRB-7 has already issued 11 special permits to allow buses to travel outside their franchise area. Operators whose buses caught plying outside their routes without the said permit shall be fined the amount of P1 million.

Tancinco said that LTO-7 personnel will only honor special permits issued by LTFRB-7 and not those being issued by a local government unit.

 “LTO will only recognize special permits officially issued by LTFRB,” Tancinco said.

He said they are coordinating with the Cebu provincial government and two teams were created to response in case of road accidents.

Help desks have been set up in terminals to assist the passengers in their complaints and other concerns.

 For the air cluster, Villarete, who is also the general manager of the Mactan Cebu International Airport, said there is no request yet for additional flights.

Villarete said that normally an influx of passengers will start on Wednesday until Sunday based on past experiences.

For the water cluster, the Philippine Coast Guard-Cebu District, Maritime Industry Authority and the Cebu Ports Authority are closely coordinating with each other to ensure that there will be no overloading.

 Commodore Enrico Efren Evangelista, district commander of PCG- Central and Eastern Visayas, said help desks were also placed in various ports. They are also closely coordinating with the local government units and other non-government organizations.

  The Port Police Division likewise will be on a double-shift duty, K-9 dogs will be in place and two floating assets will be on standby in case of emergency.

 Jesus Quino, supervising Maritime Industry Development Specialist, said they will be issuing special permits to roro vessels travelling outside its routes

 Meanwhile, in anticipation of the large volume of passengers going to Camotes Islands this Lenten season, trips from Danao City being the gateway to the island will be made available 24 hours tomorrow, Holy Wednesday, and Maundy Thursday.

This, as the Danao port management is expecting the volume of passengers to increase by three times higher than that during regular days, said Ramonette Mahinay, Danao City information officer.

“Hourly naay mobyahe… Ang among operation pod diha sa terminal 24 hours pod mi,” she said.

She said the 24-hour schedule for these days was already approved by the Marina. She further made it clear that advance booking and reservations of trip tickets will not be allowed.

Travel from Danao Port to Camotes Island usually takes around two to three hours. The city government will send augmentation of security force at the port starting Wednesday when influx of passengers is expected to increase this day.

Mahinay said members of the Barangay Peacekeeping Action Team will also be mobilized to help secure the port area. Apart from the BPAT, members of the Philippine National Police will be fielded to conduct roving and checkpoints as part of their “Oplan Sita Bakal” to prevent sneaking in of illegal and deadly weapons.

For those passengers leaving their vehicles in the mainland, a parking area will be provided at the city’s fish port with a parking fee of P20 for two hours and P5 for the succeeding hour. Security personnel will also be detailed there.

In Cebu City, acting city police director Senior Superintendent Mariano Batiancela yesterday conducted inspection at the South Bus Terminal, Pier 1 and Mt. Carmel church.

Batiancela checked if the number of personnel assigned in the said areas is enough to maintain the safety and security of the public.

“Minimal pa man ang mga tawo karon pero by Wednesday, mag-add ta og mga personnel sa mga areas kay mao man gyud ni ang ting-larga sa mga tawo,” said Batiancela.

 Batiancela said the police are already in full alert until the end of the Holy Week.

 In line with the observance of the Holy Week, the police are also distributing to the public flyers that contain information on how to avoid crimes.

 Police Chief Inspector Enrique Belciña of the CCPO Police Community Relations reminded the public to be conscious of their security and safety.

“Hangyo lang nato nga dili gyud biyaan ang ilang panimalay. Kinahanglan nga naa gyud mahibilin maskin usa ka miyembro sa ilang pamilya. Kung di man gyud gani mahimo, bisan ang silingan na lang nga magtan-aw tan-aw sa ilaha,” said Belciña. — Mitchelle L. Palaubsanon, Michael Vencynth H. Braga and Ma. Fatima R. Secuya/FPL