Sunday, October 21, 2007
Help desks in place for two-day holiday
A GROUP of National Government agencies and government corporations, which are under the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), will reactivate next week the “help desks” to receive complaints from the public during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
DOTC’s annual program dubbed as Oplan Paglalakbay is aimed to help travelers, who may become victims of criminals, abusive shipping crew, drivers, conductors, among others.
Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) 7 Director Glenn Cabañez, chairman of DOTC’s Regional Management Council, said the help desks, which will be located at airport, seaports and bus terminals, will also guide travelers in locating missing baggage or relatives.
The council is composed of Marina, Cebu Port Authority (CPA), Philippine Ports Authority, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Land Transportation Office (LTO), Air Transportation Office (ATO), Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), National Telecommunications Commission (NTC), Philippine Postal Corp., Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Telecommunications Office (Telof).
Operating in clusters, the LTFRB and LTO will man the help desks at the South Bus Terminal and North Bus Terminal, while the MCIAA and ATO will handle the help desks at the airport.
The CPA and PCG will provide personnel for help desks at Pier 1, Pier 3, Berthing Area 14, ports in Toledo City, Argao, San Remigio and the islands of Camotes and Bantayan.
The NTC and Telof, on the other hand, will provide the lines of communications.
LTO 7 Director Alex Leyson warns unscrupulous drivers and conductors against overcharging and overloading otherwise they will be punished.
He also warned scalpers against selling bus seats to passengers.
He said drivers can be fined P1,000 per violation for overcharging and overloading, while scalpers can be criminally charged in court.
NTC 7 Director Danilo Sy said that their role is primarily on relaying information and to ensure that telecommunication lines are available.
CPA General Manager Angelo Verdan said that aside from help desks at the ports, they will also deploy additional security guards and tasked the CPA police to conduct more patrol activities. (EOB)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (October 21, 2007 issue)
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