Public transport safety, availability assured during Lenten break

THE SAFETY and availability of public transportation have been assured for travellers during the Holy Week break that begins Thursday and ends Sunday.

The Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) is providing help desks and passenger assistance centers as well as tightening security at all ports nationwide for the heavy passenger traffic during the Lenten break.

PPA is also giving a 20% discount to senior citizens and students on passenger terminal fees at all of its ports nationwide starting Friday.

Senior citizens are required to present valid identification cards to avail of the discount, while students could only avail of the discount during the school year.

In a statement on Wednesday, PPA General Manager Oscar M. Sevilla said they have been directed "to adopt appropriate measures that would ensure the continued safety and convenience of ships, passengers, and cargoes in the ports."

Measures include the provisions of help desks and passenger assistance centers; and coordination with various government agencies for port safety and security, and contingency plans for possible power interruption.

The passenger assistance centers will be manned by PPA personnel and members of other agencies such as the Philippine Coast Guard, Philippine National Police Maritime Command and Maritime Industry Authority.

For its part, the Department of Transportation and Communication (DoTC) will also set up road safety assistance centers during the break.

Called "Oplan Semana Santa 2009," the scheme will run from April 5-12 and will "ensure the convenience and safety of passengers going to the provinces during the Lenten season."

Through hot line 7890, the DoTC will maintain a 24-hour help desk and assistance network at all land, air and sea passenger terminals nationwide.

To accommodate heavy road traffic, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has also issued 240 special permits to bus operators nationwide effective April 5-13. LTFRB granted 153 additional bus units to operate in Northern Luzon, 18 in the Bicol Region, 35 in Southern Luzon and 34 in Visayas.

For those taking the elevated railway system, the Light Rail Transit lines 1 (Caloocan City to Pasay City) and 2 (Santolan in Pasig City to Recto in Manila), and the Metro Rail Transit (Pasay to SM North in Quezon City) will not operate on April 9-12. Services will resume on April 13.

Meanwhile, Victor I. Luciano, president and chief executive officer of the Clark International Airport and member of the air panel conducting talks with other countries on air service agreements, said on Wednesday airports nationwide have been ordered by the DoTC-Transportation and Security Administration (DoTC-TSA) to ramp up security.

"Airports have been put on tighter security due to the high number of passengers during Lent. We are now extra strict for the check-in baggages," he said in an interview.

Aside from the DoTC-TSA, airport securities are also coordinating with the Philippine National Police Aviation Security group. Mr. Luciano said airports nationwide increase their manpower by about 30%-40% during Holy Week.