CEBU, Philippines — The police have beefed up its deployment in Cebu City ports as travelers have begun to flock for the holidays such as the observance of the Kalag-kalag 2021.
Police Captain Edgar Labe, Waterfront Police Station chief whose area of jurisdiction includes three ports, said they have deployed at total of six police personnel and at least 10 force multipliers of Task Force Kasaligan.
"Manageable ra man, medyo ni increase (passengers) pero sa early morning ang mas daghan, ni-increase siya kay of course Kalag-kalag, vacation, visit sa pamilya," said Labe.
Labe said that this deployment will be augmented until next week just until the situation returns to normal.
Port Police Inspector Jose Jupiter Orzales of the Cebu Port Authority (CPA) said the passengers would mostly flock at around 6 a.m. when three vessels bound for Tagbilaran City, Camotes and Ormoc City are scheduled for departure.
"So mao gyud na nga time nga mga passengers, magdungan, magdasok, so kami pud diri as per mandate sa amoa, amo pud gi implement ang health protocols like social distancing, wearing of facemask, mao ng kami mag tuyok-tuyok sad mi dira to ensure," said Ozales.
This has been the situation the past days including yesterday (Sunday) wherein the influx of passengers have calmed down at around 10 a.m.
He, however, added that despite this influx, the situation is still manageable since the passengers' flow during boarding is moving and continuous avoiding a long line.
According to him, since today is All Saints Day, they anticipate that more influx of visitors will be coming over to travel.
He added they also expect that this situation will continue until the Christmas season.
"So most probably manguli jud ng mga tawo, especially given sa situation nga ang travel process nato is almost going back to normal kay na less na ang restrictions sa mga travel destination, so expect nalang gyud ta nga daghang passengers nga mudagsa sa pantalan," said Ozales.
The deployment plan on the city ports has been planned ahead of time under the Oplan Undas making them ready enough for the influx of passengers.
Inside the terminals, there are port police deployed to man the area while another team is deployed outside. — GMR (FREEMAN)