PNP girds for Oplan Bantay Lakbay

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine National Police (PNP) will start setting up on Tuesday public assistance centers nationwide as part of “Oplan Bantay Lakbay” in anticipation of thousands of Metro Manila residents going to the provinces for their Holy Week vacation.

PNP spokesman Senior Superintendent Nicanor Bartolome said policemen were deployed in bus terminals starting this weekend because some people might start going to the provinces for the long Lenten break this week.

“The full implementation of the public assistance centers will start 5 p.m. on Tuesday and will extend until Monday of the following week or March 24. This will include the local government units, non-governmental organizations, volunteer organizations, and radio communication groups to assist motorists if the need arises,” Bartolome said.

He said the public assistance centers are expected to assist in traffic management, cases of stalled vehicles, accidents, and other emergencies.

The PNP will also assign police officers in seaports, airports and bus terminals to maximize police visibility and prevent criminals from taking advantage of the holiday rush.

“This Oplan Bantay Lakbay is not necessarily for the Holy Week only. The Oplan will be implemented for the rest of the summer period, and for festivals for the month of May,” he added.

All police stations in the country have been directed to put up their own public assistance centers, especially on major highways, to ensure that all motorists and travelers will be safe during their travel to the provinces.

He said the police will stay on normal alert status during the Holy Week but PNP chief Director General Avelino Razon Jr. might upgrade the level of alert depending on the situation.

Bartolome and Metro Manila Police spokesman Superintendent Rhodel Sermonia said there will also be some personnel who will guard residential communities since many homeowners are expected to leave their houses for vacation.

Sermonia advised residents to ask the officers of the homeowners associations to watch over their home to prevent robbers from entering.

Bracing for more robberies in the coming Holy Week when people are on vacation, the Central Luzon police will implement mandatory security checks in vital installations in Central Luzon.

Superintendent Baltazar Mamaril Jr., Central Luzon police spokesman, said policemen will implement Oplan Bantay-Lakbay with inspections in vital installations like airports, seaports, bus terminals and other transportation facilities to preempt any criminal group or syndicate out to take advantage of the holidays.

The Central Luzon police under regional director Chief Superintendent Errol Pan is all set for the coming observance of the Lenten season to ensure peace and safety of the public.

Thousands from Metro Manila are expected to motor to Baguio City, the country’s summer capital, via the NLEX, in time for the Holy Week holidays.

Chief Superintendent Alfredo Caballes, deputy regional police director for administration, said the local police units will maximize  the deployment of intelligence operative personnel and tap the Barangay Intelligence Networks (BINs) to monitor the movements of destabilizing forces and criminal elements.

Mamaril cited information from the Tollways Management Corp. (TMC), the implementing arm of the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) at the North Luzon expressway, that traffic buildup in toll gates may be experienced on Holy Wednesday and Holy Thursday  particularly in the afternoon at the Balintawak tollgate in Quezon City.

He said the TMC is also mobilizing patrol vehicles, motorcycle patrols, lane management teams, anti-overspeeding teams, fixed patrollers and traffic aides at barriers and toll plazas. Towing services will be provided by the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP), he added.

The TMC advisory also said that emergency medical services will be provided by the Aeromed Ambulance Transport Inc., which will deploy ambulances with paramedics at toll gates in Balintawak in Quezon City, Sta. Rita and San Fernando in Pampanga.

Additional tellers will also be deployed to avoid long lines of vehicles at toll gates.

“Toll cards will be given by ambulant tellers and these cards should be surrendered by motorists upon payment at the toll booths, in exchange for the original toll receipts,” the TMC advisory also said.

The TMC also issued its emergency hotlines (02) 580-8911 and (02) 35000.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will also conduct “Oplan Semana Santa” from March 17 to 24 this year to facilitate the smooth travel of Metro Manilans to the provinces.

Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza said that safety and security measures will be strictly implementation at all airports, seaports and bus terminals.

He also appealed to the public to allot enough time for security checks and be patient with security officers checking their baggage, especially at airports and seaports.

To avoid delays, Mendoza said that travelers should refrain from bringing sharp objects, deadly weapons, firearms and ammunition.

He said that the department’s Investigation, Security and Law Enforcement Service (ISLES)/Public Assistance Center, headed by Director Teofilo Guadiz III, together with DOTC sectoral offices and attached agencies and in coordination with DOTC accredited nongovernment organizations, will deploy field teams to monitor travelers and extend assistance to passengers in major seaports, airports and bus terminals.

For road transport, the DOTC ISLES/Public Assistance Center, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and Land Transportation Office (LTO) will have help desks at major and common bus terminals in EDSA-Kamuning, EDSA-Cubao and Ali Mall (Araneta Center) in Cubao in Quezon City; Monumento, Caloocan City; Buendia, EDSA, Pasay, Baclaran and Tramo, Pasay City; Doroteo Jose, Dimasalang, Earnshaw, Sampaloc and Lawton in Manila and Alabang, Muntinlupa.

To assist air travelers, the DOTC ISLES/Public Assistance Center in coordination with the Air Transportation Office (ATO), Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA) will set up help desks and assistance centers at domestic and international airports.

For sea travelers, the DOTC ISLES/Public Assistance Center in coordination with the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) and Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) will set help desks at major ports in North and South Harbors.

For rail transport, the DOTC ISLES/ Public Assistance Center will also deploy field personnel at major terminals at Philippine National Railways (PNR) stations, the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Lines 1 and 2 and Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3.

The DOTC said that the public may call the DOTC ISLES/ Public Assistance Center through their hotline 7890 or text at cellular phone numbers 09202552828/09224490024 for reports of transportation related queries, complaints and incidents. – With Ding Cervantes, Rainier Allan Ronda, Evelyn Macairan