This as CPA, the Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO 7) and the police have been ramping up their security preparations for the Holy Week, during which many people flock to tourist spots.
CPA information officer Maryknoll Lague-Bolasa said they are expecting more travelers as the national government has eased pandemic restrictions and a long weekend is up ahead. Malacañang has declared April 6 (Maundy Thursday) and April 7 (Good Friday) as regular holidays, and it has also moved the observance of Araw ng Kagitingan from April 9 to April 10.
Bolasa said on Wednesday, March 29, that they recorded a total of 345,445 passengers during the Holy Week in 2022.
“For this year, nagka-increase man atoa numbers, pagka-karon amoa lang gi-expect nga mo-double na siya unsa ang last year nato,” Bolasa said.
(For this year, since our numbers are increasing, we are expecting right now that the number will double from what was recorded last year.)
Terminal fee
Bolasa said there is no increase in terminal fee at the Cebu Baseport; however, price varies in other ports.
The terminal fee is still P25 at Cebu Baseport in Cebu City, which consists of both Cebu International Port and Cebu Baseport – Domestic Zone.
Excluded from paying the fee are senior citizen passengers, student passengers, children below 12 years old and persons with disabilities.
Aside from Cebu Baseport, there are five subports located in the province that are under the Cebu Port System. These are Mandaue Subport (which consists of Port of Punta Engaño and Port of Santa Rosa in Lapu-Lapu City), Danao Subport (Port of Danao, Port of Poro in Camotes Islands and Port of Sogod), Santa Fe Subport in northern Cebu (Port of Santa Fe and Port of Hagnaya), Toledo Subport in southwestern Cebu (Port of Toledo City and Port of Tangil in Dumanjug town), and Argao Subport (Port of Taloot, Argao, and Port of Samboan).
Bolasa was not able to provide the amount of terminal fee of each subport.
Police deployment
The Cebu City Police Office (CCPO) will start deploying its personnel on Wednesday, April 5 to sites where most people flock, and these include Good Shepherd Road in Banawa, Barangay Guadalupe and Tabor Hills in Barangay Talamban.
The CCPO will also provide security to big Catholic churches that will open on Holy Thursday, April 6 and Good Friday, April 7 for the Visita Iglesia. Also on Good Friday, it will assign personnel to secure the “Buhing Kalbaryo,” a reenactment of Jesus Christ’s crucifixion in Guadalupe.
CCPO chief Col. Ireneo Dalogdog also ordered the police station commanders to visit the churches to find out what could be done to safeguard the security of 30 Catholic churches in their respective jurisdictions.
Dalogdog said on Wednesday, March 29 that areas where religious rites are performed will be the focus of their deployment to prevent crimes from happening.
Starting on Monday, April 3, CCPO’s tourist cops will be stationed at Plaza Independencia, Fort San Pedro, Sirao Garden, Temple of Leah, Magellan’s cross and the Carbon Public Market.
In Mandaue City, around 460 police officers and force multipliers will be deployed throughout the city. The Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) will assign 210 policemen and 250 force multipliers, which include barangay tanods and traffic personnel, to malls, ports, terminals and 10 churches in the city.
Lt. Col. Franco Rudolf Oriol, deputy chief of operations and spokesperson of MCPO, told reporters on Wednesday that the deployment of their personnel will also start on April 5.
Meanwhile, government agencies such as the Land Transportation Office in Central Visayas (LTO 7) and the CPA have also launched their programs to ensure the safety of travelers during the Holy Week.
Monitoring PUV terminals
Starting on Friday, March 31, the LTO 7’s “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos!: Semana Santa and Summer Vacation 2023” will be implemented. It will end on Monday, April 10.
The LTO 7 said in a press statement that it will monitor public utility vehicle (PUV) terminals including Cebu North Bus Terminal, Cebu South Bus Terminal, Kamagayan PUV Terminal and SM City Cebu PUV Terminal in Cebu City, Tagbilaran City Bus Terminal and Jagna Bus Terminal in Bohol, Dumaguete City Bus Terminal in Negros Oritental, and Siquijor PUV Terminal.
The LTO 7 Malasakit Help Desk will also be stationed in each of the primary terminals for both motorists’ and passengers’ assistance.
LTO 7’s Patrol Teams of Law Enforcement Officers will be responsible for roadside inspections and law enforcement activities on major roads in the region.
CPA on high alert
As for the CPA, it will reactivate its “Oplan Byaheng Ayos,” and it has put all Cebu ports on high alert starting on April 2 until April 10, 2023.
Earlier this week, the CPA’s Port Security, Safety and Environmental Management Department had already finished all preparations for the expected surge of passengers. It has coordinated with other maritime offices and law enforcement units.
CPA will begin deploying more port police personnel on Monday, April 2 in ports with heavy passenger traffic to enforce port safety and security regulations. (KJF, AYB, TPT, HIC)