Bus terminals in the cities of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and Valenzuela (Camanava) started filling up with passengers Wednesday up to Thursday, with some booking their tickets in advance while some tried to board as chance passengers, Northern Police District (NPD) Director Brig. Gen. Ponce Rogelio Penones Jr. said.
(Photo from Northern Police District/ MANILA BULLETIN)
As of 1:40 p.m. on Wednesday, there were no long queues yet of people in the bus terminals as most have booked their tickets online and were just waiting to board their buses. There were no stranded passengers and no untoward incidents reported.
Penones said that they are expecting 3,000 bus passengers in Camanava going to the provinces for the Holy Week.
He also said he went to one of the bus terminals in Caloocan and the officials told him that the people are expected to come in the afternoon on Wednesday or on Maundy Thursday, April 6.
Around 1,700 police personnel, including mobile/police patrol vehicles, were deployed in different public areas in Camanava to maintain peace and order during the Holy Week.
Caloocan City Mayor Dale Gonzalo “Along” Malapitan had earlier ordered the Caloocan City Police Station (CCPS) to ensure a zero crime rate during the observance of Holy Week 2023.
He told the CCPS to strengthen their security measures and police visibility in public places, churches, transport terminals, and main roads.
The mayor also instructed barangay officials to conduct roving operations. He also encouraged the residents to coordinate with them in case of emergency.
As of 11 a.m. on Wednesday, the Quezon City government said that there were also no long queues of passengers seen in several bus terminals in the city.
It said that they are also expecting passengers to come to the terminals in the afternoon on Wednesday.
The local government said that it coordinated with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Quezon City Police District (QCPD), Phillippibe National Police (PNP), Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA). and other concerned agencies to ensure the safety of passengers and maintain peace in several terminals in the city.
On Tuesday, April 4, the QC Traffic and Transport and Traffic Management Department , PNP Highway Patrol Group, PDEA, LTFRB and MMDA inspected the bus terminals and conducted random drug testing on bus drivers before they were allowed to travel.
Help desks were also placed in the terminals to provide assistance to passengers.