Authorities still on high alert after Holy Week break

Authorities remained on high alert on Monday as commuters and motorists return from the Holy Week exodus. The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) said it is on heightened alert as ships carry passengers returning from their Holy Week break, radio dzBB's Carlo Mateo reported on Monday. New Coast Guard commandant Vice Admiral Ramon Liwag also instructed PCG personnel to look out for colorum or unauthorized ships. Radio dzBB's Denver Trinidad reported on Monday that vacationers returning from the provinces continued to arrive at bus terminals in Metro Manila. Vacationers who spent the Holy Week in the provinces started returning to Metro Manila as early as Holy Saturday. However, the bulk of returning vacationers was expected Sunday evening and Monday morning. According to the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), only a few road accidents were recorded during the Holy Week. "We had a minimum accident record during the Holy Week," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio. In NLEX, for instance, only 59 accidents were recorded during the Holy Week, a report from GMA News TV said. This is much smaller compared to last year's 105. However, DOTC spokesman Undersecretary Dante Velasco said the department will look into reports of choosy taxi drivers forcing commuters to pay higher fares. Meanwhile, officials of the North and South Luzon Expressways appealed to motorists to prepare the exact change to avoid causing delays at the toll plazas. "Para maiwasan ang pagkaabala sa mga approaching pahanda na lang kaagad yung pambayad po natin para mabilis ang takbo sa toll plaza po," NLEX traffic room supervisor Richard Briones said in an interview aired on dzBB radio early Monday. - with Emmanuel Louis Bacani, VVP, GMA News