DOTr assures public of safe holiday travel

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(UPDATE) THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) has vowed to ensure safe and seamless travel this Christmas season through the implementation of the Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Pasko 2024 initiative.

This heightened alert initiative, which runs from Dec. 20, 2024, to Jan. 3, 2025, is aimed at addressing the surge in passenger traffic during the holiday season.

In a statement, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista emphasized the department’s commitment to ensuring the safety and convenience of travelers during this peak travel period.

As part of this initiative, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has been closely monitoring passenger traffic nationwide. On Dec. 23, the PCG reported managing 19,701 outbound passengers and 23,146 inbound passengers across various ports in the country. To maintain smooth operations, the PCG has deployed 2,854 frontline personnel across its 16 districts. These personnel have been actively conducting inspections, covering 182 vessels and 28 motor bancas to ensure compliance with safety protocols.

To accommodate the expected influx of port passengers, the PCG has placed its districts, stations, and sub-stations on heightened alert. This readiness aims to prevent overcrowding and ensure the efficient management of port facilities.

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All hands on deck

For its part, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) has also given its assurance that they have enough manpower ready to provide the services and assistance to the expected heavy volume of passengers.

Immigration Commission Joel Anthony Viado said on Monday that aside from the deployment of additional frontline personnel, additional measures were also put in place for any contingency that may arise during the period.

“Frontline personnel at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and all other ports of entry and exit nationwide are in full force during the holiday season,” Viado said after he personally inspected the operations at NAIA.

He said that, as practiced, frontline personnel were not allowed to go on leave from Dec. 15 to Jan. 15 to maximize the manpower during the peak season.

He added that the ban applies to all BI port personnel, such as those deployed at the NAIA; the airports in Clark, Mactan, Davao and Kalibo; and Zamboanga International Seaport.

Viado said he instructed terminal heads to ensure all counters are fully manned and encourage arriving travelers to utilize the e-gates to cut down processing time.

WITH WILLLIAM B. DEPASUPIL AND JAVIER JOE ISMAEL

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