TO ENSURE the safety of the commuters who will be going home for the observance of kalag-kalag, an anti-narcotics unit conducted a surprise drug test at the two major bus terminals in the cities of Mandaue and Cebu on Monday, Oct. 28, 2019.
For their part, the personnel of the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) 7, through their Oplan Biyaheng Ayos (Safe Trip), have been checking the condition of boats and implementing security measures in ports since Saturday, Oct. 26.
PCG 7 spokesperson LTJG Michael John Encina said they have put in place help desks and deployed medical teams in major ports in Central Visayas. Oplan Biyaheng Ayos will end on Tuesday, Nov. 5.
In Cebuano, kalag-kalag is the term referring to the All Saints’ Day on Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, and All Souls’ Day on Saturday, Nov. 2.
The cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Talisay have already prepared their security plans for the kalag-kalag.
Drug test
At the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT) in Cebu City and Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT) in Mandaue City, a total of 209 drivers, conductors and employees underwent a surprise drug test, which was supervised by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) 7 on Monday.
None of them tested positive of drug use, according to the PDEA 7, which has conducted five surprise drug tests at the two terminals since October 2018.
The central office of PDEA revealed that 213 of 19,087 drivers and other employees in different terminals in the country tested positive of drug use.
CSBT manager Carmen Quijano warned drivers and other workers not to use illegal drugs as they risk losing their jobs.
Several passengers
During kalag-kalag, the CSBT and CNBT often experience an influx of passengers.
Anticipating that more than 50,000 passengers would flock to CSBT in the coming days, Quijano has asked local government units (LGUs) to help augment public utility buses by deploying vehicles that will cater to passengers from their towns.
These vehicles will ferry the constituents of the LGU and its neighboring component towns or cities. It will also prioritize the elderly, women and mothers with small children for their convenience.
At least 300 buses go in and out of the terminal every day, but each bus can accommodate a maximum of only 60 passengers per trip.
Each bus makes an average of three round trips, and Quijano said it might not be able to catch up with the number of passengers.
The Land Transportation Office (LTO) 7, meanwhile, offered to open a portion of its office as an extension of the terminal’s passenger waiting area. The LTO 7 office is located beside CSBT on N. Bacalso Ave. in Cebu City.
Aside from additional vehicles, CSBT will also need six janitorial personnel to augment its existing 22 janitorial employees to maintain cleanliness in the terminal.
Passengers are likewise reminded to throw their trash in the designated garbage bins to help maintain cleanliness.
Security measures
The Provincial Government has tapped the Cebu Police Provincial Office, Cebu City Police Office and the PDEA 7 to augment security. These law enforcement agencies already started deploying their personnel on Monday morning.
Quijano and other CSBT officials will meet with Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia on Tuesday, Oct. 29, to discuss security measures for the terminal. The governor will conduct an inspection at the terminal on Thursday morning, Oct. 31.
In Talisay City, Mayor Gerald Anthony Gullas Jr. visited the public cemeteries on Monday.
He said he will issue an executive order banning amplifiers inside cemeteries, saying there should be no noisy music as kalag-kalag is a solemn occasion.
P/Maj. Gerard Ace Pelare, the city police chief, said liquor and other contraband—knives, sharp objects, illegal drugs, cards and firearms—are not allowed inside cemeteries.
In Cebu City, public services head Joel Biton said his personnel have cleaned and placed light bulbs in 15 public cemeteries. They also installed portable toilets and garbage bins. More than 100 personnel will also maintain the cemeteries’ cleanliness, said Biton.
In Mandaue City, Mayor Jonas Cortes will tap all the tanods in 27 barangays to maintain peace and order. (ANV, RTF, HBL, FMD, PAC, KFD)