"Lawless elements are now using public transport facilities to sow terror so we deemed it proper to educate them how to react when there are bomb threats. We want them to know what they are dealing with," said Transportation and Communication Secretary Leandro Mendoza.
Last Friday, three passengers and scores of others were wounded when a bomb exploded inside Golden Hi-way bus in Balintawak, Quezon City.
This prompted the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Metro Manila Development Authority and Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) to organize a series of seminars on explosives among PUV operators.
The project was kicked off yesterday by holding a seminar among officials of 18 transport organizations at the DOTC office in Mandaluyong City.
But bomb experts from the Philippine National Police – National Capital Regional Police (PNP-NCRP) cautioned the PUV operators that one should not panic when there is a bomb threat or actual bomb.
"You should not panic. Stay calm because most of the time, there are more casualties when people get panic and hurt each other than when the bomb actually explode," an expert noted.
The expert added that an untrained person should never attempt to open or touch a package suspected to contain bombs.
"When suspected bombs are found, advice the proper authorities immediately. Don’t attempt to touch the bombs yourself," he said.
The expert maintained that one must be observant because bombs come in many forms.
"It can be placed in a shoe shine box, soft drink cans, bottle, pipe, milk can, books, flashlight, thermos or small figurines. These are things you will never expect to contain explosives," he added. – Sheila Crisostomo