By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz | Philippine News Agency
All transportation hubs across the country are ready for the expected influx of travelers during Holy Week.
In a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City on Tuesday, acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said various government agencies are working together to ensure the safety and comfort of motorists.
The whole-of-government approach in making the Holy Week exodus safe for the public complies with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s order to ensure the availability of public transportation and unhampered flow of traffic.
Secretary Lopez told the media, “Minabuti po namin kasama po ang DILG (Department of the Interior and Local Government), DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), PNP (Philippine National Police), maging ang LTO (Land Transportation Office) at LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) na siguruhing wala tayong obstruction sa kahabaan ng mga highway.”
More than five million passengers are expected to flock to various transport hubs across the country during the period.
To date, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has activated 17,000 personnel and has placed all of its units on full alert since Saturday.
The Transport chief added, “This is to ensure order, safety, and protection of the commuters at airports, seaports, bus terminals, and railway stations.”
In particular, he ordered the PCG to pre-position vessels in high-volume passenger areas and ports to provide free rides to stranded passengers in case there are not enough ships to ferry travelers.
Secretary Lopez said, “Ito po ay usually sa Marinduque, sa Batangas, at sa Calapan. Naka-ready na po ang ating mga coast guards.”
On the other hand, the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2), and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) will be offline beginning Maundy Thursday until Easter Sunday as part of annual maintenance activities.
However, the EDSA Busway will remain operational 24/7 along with other modes of transport, such as jeepneys and transport network vehicle service (TNVS).
To ensure enough transportation for commuters heading for the provinces, the LTFRB has also issued 1,297 special permits to operators of passenger buses.
Earlier, the LTFRB reminded all motorists to keep their cool to avoid road rage incidents during the expected influx of travelers during the Holy Week.
On Friday, the Philippine Ports Authority also announced the expansion of its Online Reservation Assistance System (ORAS) to cover more ports nationwide, providing a standardized online booking system for maritime passengers. (PNA)
