Wednesday, March 19, 2008 Military to assist Lent travelers
THE military's National Capital Region Command (NCRcom) on Tuesday said it has ordered the implementation of "Oplan Tulong Lakbay" in view of the anticipated influx of Metro Manila residents to the provinces during the Lenten season.
"It's a joint undertaking with the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to provide security and assistance to commuters and travelers during the Lenten season," said NCRcom spokesman Carlo Ferrer.
Ferrer said NCRcom would be fielding commuter's assistance teams providing security and combined K9 (with bomb sniffing dogs), explosives and ordinance disposal teams conducting paneling or bomb detection operations in the major bus terminals within the NCR.
"NCRcom would also provide motorist assistance points along North Luzon Expressway (Nlex), South Luzon Expressway (Slex), Coastal Road in Cavite and Marcos Highway near Masinag Market in Antipolo City; composed of motor vehicle assistance teams with mechanics and medical aid teams with ambulances," said Ferrer.
"The deployment is likewise a joint effort of NCRcom, NCRPO and MMDA to provide greater coverage of assistance to motorist in said areas," said Ferrer, adding that NCRcom commander Fernando Mesa ordered the implementation of the oplan.
MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando, meanwhile, advised commuters bound for the provinces to avoid the Holy Week rush, particularly the after-office hours on Wednesday when traffic is expected to be at the heaviest.
"The last day is going to be very busy because people will be rushing to the stations all at the same time," Fernando said.
"Better leave for the province in the evening when crowds at the bus terminals start to thin, the official added," he said.
"Metro traffic is expected to be very smooth beginning Thursday until Saturday," he added.
Fernando also advised passengers to go to bus terminals other than those in Cubao, Quezon City, where most stations were located, and instead go to nearby terminals at North or Quezon Avenue.
The MMDA has temporarily allowed provincial bus operators to load passengers at the central terminal at Quezon Avenue, and other off-road stations at Santolan, P. Tuazon, and North avenues.
Fernando assured the public that the agency was prepared to cope with the holiday exodus, having mobilized 1,400 traffic enforcers and road emergency personnel in transport terminals, exit points and off-road stations.
He said traffic enforcers and emergency responders were deployed to bus terminals in Cubao, the cities of Pasay and Manila, and the entire stretch of Edsa.
"They were also deployed to exit points leading to provincial highways like North and South expressways, McArthur Highway and Coastal Road," he said.
"Our men will work round-the-clock on three shifts, and we have cancelled their dayoff," he added. (VR/AH/Sunnex)
