Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Manuel Bonoan has ordered all regional and district engineering offices nationwide March 21 to conduct highway routine maintenance activities, to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow along major roads this coming Holy Week.
“In anticipation of the heavy flow of traffic this long weekend, implementing offices were instructed to ensure the provision of informative/regulatory warning signs or traffic advisory along ongoing road projects,” Bonoan said.
“They shall likewise make sure that appropriate warning, directional, and information signages are legibly and visibly installed, especially along critical sections leading to churches, for the safety of those who will go for Visita Iglesia,” he added in a statement.
The DPWH’s “Lakbay Alalay” program will also be reactivated to provide prompt emergency assistance to motorists and commuters, including in Bacolod City and highways in Negros Occidental.
Motorist assistance teams will be stationed along strategic national roads, and shall be mobilized starting March 28-29, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The public may approach the deployed ‘Lakbay Alalay’ teams, which are composed of DPWH uniformed field and crew personnel with maintenance equipment on standby at standard navy blue-colored tents on strategic parts of national roads.
The Police Regional Office 6, meanwhile, said it will deploy around 20,000 security officers, including force multipliers, to ensure a safe and peaceful Lenten season through “Oplan Semana Santa”.
PRO-6 acting director, Brig. Gen. Jack Wanky, said police and force multipliers will be deployed in convergence areas, like churches, pilgrim sites, and other tourist destinations.
“Since it’s a long vacation, we are also expecting an influx of tourists in our destinations. We have already briefed our personnel,” Wanky said in a Philippine News Agency report.
Col. Gilbert Gorero, PRO6 Regional Operations and Management Division chief, also said that all concerned government agencies, like the Bureau of Fire Protection, Armed Forces of the Philippines, Philippine Coast Guard, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management offices, are aiming for zero major incident.
Gorero said security preparations are also in place in areas where there will be “taltal”, or the observance of the Passion of Christ and the visita iglesia or church visits. ||
