SECURITY measures are tightened at the Davao City Overland Transport Terminal (Dcott) as the 86th Araw ng Dabaw activities have started to heat up over the weekend, and as part of preparations for the upcoming Holy Week.
Dcott manager Aisa Usop, during the Madayaw Davao program aired Monday, March 6, via the 87.5 FM Davao City Disaster Radio (DCDR), said Dcott has coordinated with the security cluster. Davao City Police Office (DCPO) and Task Force Davao (TFD) personnel are manning the terminal to ensure the safety and security of passengers.
“Ang kapulisan ginapatuyok-tuyok sa sulod ug sa gawas. Ang TFD naga-augment sila pag ingon ani nga sitwasyon (The police are doing the rounds inside the terminal. The TFD also augment its personnel during peak season),” Usop said, adding that influx of passengers is inevitable whenever there are huge events in Davao City.
She, however, said that they expect more passengers during the Holy Week than during the Araw ng Dabaw festivities. The Dcott manager said since the city’s founding anniversary celebration is month-long, some local tourists from nearby cities and provinces only come for activities they are interested in.
“Nagpatawag nako og meeting sa mga bus operation managers para sa Araw ng Dabaw nga dapat always ready gyud sila kung adunay pagdagsa sa mga pasahero (I called a meeting for bus operation managers for Araw ng Dabaw that they should always be ready for the influx of passengers),” Usop said.
She also said that bus operators were mandated to add buses and seek special permits from the Land Transportation and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) for Araw ng Dabaw and Holy Week.
Usop also reiterated the no-pick-up policy and instead, reminded bus operators to operate from terminal to terminal as mandated by local and national laws.
Although reports have reached her office about erring bus drivers who continue to pick up passengers along the road, Usop said she leaves their fate to the enforcement agencies. (PR)