Holy Week trips peak; PNoy set to check ports, terminals

(Updated 12:05 p.m.) President Benigno Simeon Aquino III is set to conduct inspections Wednesday on sea ports, airports and bus terminals in Manila as Holy Week exodus peaks, presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said. “Maglilibot kami mamaya sa ilang sea ports, airport at bus terminals para tignan ang kalagayan ng mga pauwi sa probinsiya," Lacierda said at a press briefing in Malacañang. During the meeting of the security cluster of his Cabinet Tuesday on the preparations for the Holy Week, Aquino asked for an assurance from the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) of an accident-free Holy Week this year. Last year, a total of 994 accidents were reported from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday. Seven of these were fatal while 221 were non-fatal, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) head Francis Tolentino earlier said. Meanwhile, as the Holy Week exodus began to peak early Wednesday, transportation officials beefed up measures to ensure a safe trip for passengers. In an interview on dzBB, DOTC spokesman Undersecretary Dante Velasco said, “Dumadami na ang pasahero. Pati ang mga pasahero ng mga barko at mga bangka dumadami na. Sinisigurado na natin hindi overloaded ang mga ito kasi karamihan ng aksidente sa dagat ay sanhi ng overloading." A separate report on dzBB said bus terminal dispatchers in a major bus station in Metro Manila expect around 12,000 passengers to catch trips to the provinces starting Wednesday. Moreover, another report on dzXL said security personnel, police and inspection teams tightened inspections at the Araneta Bus Terminal in Quezon City on Wednesday morning. But Velasco also admitted receiving reports of choosy taxi drivers demanding a “kontrata" (prearranged fare) during the peak of the Holy Week exodus. “Dumadami na naman ang nangongontrata, tinatanggihan ang pasahero," he said. Also, Velasco said DOTC personnel will be on alert until Easter Sunday, when motorists and commuters return to Metro Manila from their Holy Week break. The DOTC will keep its “7890" hotline on alert on a 24-hour basis. Velasco said the hotline should respond after two rings. Also, he said the DOTC Office of Transportation Security is ready to thwart any terrorist or criminal activity. “Handang handa na ang action centers natin. Nasa ports at bus terminals at pati airports naroon na rin," he added. Avoid overloading Velasco said the Philippine Coast Guard, which had a change of leadership last Tuesday, and the Maritime Industry Authority have been reminded to prevent overloading of vessels. “Yan ang babantayan ninyo, walang kompromiso," was Velasco's reminder to Maritime authorities. Meanwhile, dispatchers at the Araneta Bus Terminal said passengers bound for the Visayas are expected in the morning, radio dzBB’s Roland Bola reported. Most of the passengers in the afternoon and evening will be bound for Bicol, the report added. The expected 12,000 passengers in Cubao bus terminals will be 7,000 fewer than the 19,000 that trooped to the provinces last year, but dispatchers said this was because many of those who went to the provinces last year also went to their home provinces to cast their votes in the May 2010 polls. According to the dispatchers, the exodus is likely to peak Wednesday afternoon, when employees knock off work. Security has been tight at bus terminals since early this week, with police patrolling areas around bus terminals and inspection teams checking buses for roadworthiness. On Tuesday, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) caught at least 14 buses trying to ply Holy Week routes without the required special permits. LTFRB board member Manuel Iway said the buses were caught during inspections of bus terminals in the Cubao. — LBG, GMA News