Tight security and public safety operations remain in place in Metro Manila and other parts of the country as millions of people, who went to the provinces for religious activity and vacation during the long Holy Week break, are expected to troop back starting on Sunday, April 20.
The Philippine National Police (PNP) earlier mobilized over 68,000 policemen for the Holy Week security and the deployment is now expected to focus on the major transportation hubs, major thoroughfares, and churches and other places of convergence for the Easter Sunday activities.
In Metro Manila, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) director Maj. Gen. Anthony A. Aberin said he already instructed his men to remain on alert in anticipation of the wave of returning travelers.
“Security operations remain in full swing as vacationers begin to make their way back into Metro Manila following the Holy Week and long holiday break,” said Aberin.
“These measures are in place to ensure that major thoroughfares and transport hubs remain safe and orderly, as the metro transitions back to its usual pace,” he added.
Aberin earlier ordered all police commanders to make sure that they would personally supervise the deployment of policemen in Metro Manila. The NCRPO chief, for his part, has been conducting inspections and monitoring deployments on the ground.
“Police presence is maintained across places of convergence, assistance desks remain functional, visibility patrols intensified, and coordination with terminal authorities and LGUs (local government units) remains in effect,” said Aberin.
Aside from policemen, the deployment of around 1,700 enforcers of the Land Transportation Office (LTO) on major thoroughfares nationwide will remain not only to assist motorists but also in running after reckless drivers.
LTO chief, Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II earlier said that they are set to issue more show cause orders (SCOs) on motorists based on incident reports and viral social media posts that were monitored since Wednesday, April 16, when the bulk of travelers hit the road for the Holy Week break.
“Let this serve both as a reminder to all motorists on their way back to work and from vacation to be careful and be mindful of others, or face the consequence of reckless action on the road,” said Mendoza.
Port passengers
On the part of the Philippine Ports Authority (PPA), its General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago said a total of 1,881,615 passengers were recorded in all ports across the country from April 12 to April 19.
photo: PPA
The PPA earlier said it is expecting around 1.7 million passengers for the Holy Week.
Based on the PPA data, the bulk of the passenger traffic was reported on Holy Wednesday and Holy Thursday with more than 300,000 each but an increase in passenger traffic was recorded as early as April 12 and 13 with more than 200,000 passengers each.
Santiago said they are expecting more passengers for Eastern Sunday, April 20, and on Monday, April 21.