The Philippine National Police will be on full alert and will deploy 18,000 cops to man 92 cemeteries and 111 bus terminals in Metro Manila during the commemoration of All Saints’ Day.
“All applications for leave of absences will be canceled starting Oct. 29. We will be on full alert until Nov. 3,” said NCRPO information officer Kimberly Molitas.
At the same time, the Metro Manila Development Authority will also be fielding 3,000 men to manage traffic and assist passengers inside bus terminals in Pasay City and Quezon City.
MMDA said it would lift the number coding scheme for vehicles on Friday (Oct. 30), according to lawyer Emerson Carlos, MMDA officer-in-charge.
He added the agency has decided to lift the number coding scheme for both public and private vehicles to allow people in Metro Manila greater mobility as they start the exodus to the provinces.
Carlos, however, said the coding scheme would resume on Monday (Nov. 2), a regular working day. He also said provincial buses would be exempted from the coding scheme on Nov. 2 in anticipation of the large number of people returning to Metro Manila.
Southern Police District director Chief Supt. Henry Ranola said his men will also provide security to both public and private cemeteries, bus terminal, ports, and commercial centers, as well as the Light Railway Transit and MRT stations.
Ranola said they are now mapping out plans for installing checkpoints and conducting visibility patrol operations during All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days. He reminded the public that items such as bladed weapons, firearms, sound systems, liquor, illegal drugs and other prohibited items would be confiscated at the cemeteries’ gates to ensure a solemn commemoration of All Saints’ Day.