A legislator on Friday sounded a warning against transportation lines after the All Saints’ Day rush because of the onset of the Christmas season.
In a letter sent to the heads of 16 government agencies concerned with transportation, Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento reminded them of their commitment to implement various transportation plans and programs to address the anticipated influx of people and vehicles going out of Metro Manila for the Halloween break.
“The undersigned respectfully reminds your office to effectively implement your commitments involving the implementation of the various transportation plans and programs as discussed in the committee meeting. I trust that you will closely monitor the transportation and traffic situation and to properly attend to the concerns of the commuting public,” said Sarmiento, chairman of the House Transportation Committee.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of Immigration will deploy additional personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in anticipation of influx of passengers this coming All Saints’ Day.
BI Commissioner Jaime Morente said newly trained BI personnel would be assigned to assist officers manning immigration booths at NAIA terminals 1,2 and 3.
The BI said another 200 BI personnel would be on standby to prevent long lines at immigration booths due to the rising number of air travelers during long vacations.
In a related development, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines is set to commence its “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Undas 2019” which will be implemented from Oct. 25 to Nov. 4.
“This is in anticipation to (sic) passenger increase in commercial airports in major cities and provinces around the country as Filipinos fly home for the approaching Undas or the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day holiday,” the CAAP said in a statement.
The letter was sent to Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Philippine Natinional Railways General Manager Junn Magno, Light Rail Transit Authority Administrator Reynaldo Berroya Civil Aeronautics Board Executive Director Atty. Carmelo Arcilla, Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Danilo Lim, PNP-Highway Patrol Group Director Police BGen. Eliseo DC Cruz, Land Transportation Office chief, Assistant Secretary Edgar Galvante, Cebu Ports Authority Administrator Leonilo Miole, Maritime Industry Authority Officer-in-Charge Vice Admiral Narciso Vingson Jr, Philippine Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Elson Hermogino, Philippine Ports Authority General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Chairman Atty. Martin Delgra III, Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority General Manager Steve Dicdican, Office of Transportation Security Administrator Usec. Raul Del Rosario, Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Eddie Monreal and Civial Aviation Authority of the Philippines Director General Capt. Jim Sydiongco.
Sarmiento reminded the 16 agency heads that last October 2, they made a commitment that they would be more prepared this time in anticipating the influx of passengers who would be traveling out of Metro Manila to visit and spend holidays with their loved ones.
According to Sarmiento, Metro Manila’s traffic was expected to get even worse after the Halloween break because it also marks the beginning of the Christmas rush.
He said this should prompt traffic and transportation authorities to finalize discussions with city bus company owners for their consolidation for the information technology-based route rationalized plan. This is to expedite the implementation of the centralized and synchronized dispatch system that will have an end-result of predictability.
“We need to immediately implement the system for us to at least alleviate the suffering of the commuting public while the government is building the mid and long-term plans which are the infrastructure and railway system,” Sarmiento said.