POLICE on Tuesday said there are fewer passengers going out of town for this year's All Saints' and All Souls' Day.
Quezon City Police District (QCPD) director Guillermo Eleazar said at least 6,000 passengers flocked the Araneta Center Bus Terminals in Cubao, Quezon City, one of the major bus terminals in Metro Manila.
The figures are fewer than what was expected considering that many people in the metro are going to their provinces to visit their departed love ones during All Saints' and All Souls' Day, Eleazar said.
"Compared to last year, we noticed that there are fewer passengers now maybe because some passengers choose different travel dates with some left for the province last Friday and during the weekend that is why the number of passengers today has decreased," Eleazar said in Filipino.
Eleazar said police and military personnel assist the Araneta security guards in providing security at the bus terminals.
At the Buendia-Pasay Bus Terminal, authorities are expecting over 4,000 passengers bound for the southern part of Luzon including Batangas, Laguna and Cavite.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Oscar Albayalde said 2,500 policemen have been deployed as part of their Oplan Kaluluwa, particularly in the cemeteries, and land, air and sea ports.
Meanwhile, police authorities are expecting over 500,000 people to troop to the Manila North and South Cemetery, the two biggest cemeteries in Metro Manila, starting Thursday, October 31, until November 2.
The public, especially the senior citizens and persons with disability, can avail themselves of the free shuttle and wheelchair services being provided to bring at the entrance of the cemeteries.
Children below 10 years old are being given name tags with the name and contact number of their guardians in case they get lost.
Manila Police District spokesperson Erwin Margarejo said they prepared a more organized security plan in the two big cemeteries for the maintenance of peace and order and traffic management.
Authorities reminded the public to refrain from bringing prohibited items such as sharp objects, flammable items, radios or speakers and playing cards in cemeteries to avoid any delays at the gates. (SunStar Philippines)