CLARK FREEPORT – Some 45,600 policemen would be on alert on Nov. 1, All Saints’ Day, in areas “where people congregate” all over the country, said Interior and Local Governments Sec. Mar Roxas.
Roxas, in his speech Wednesday before Mindanao mayors attending a forum of their chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP) here, said that “to ensure the safety of all,” cops would be posted in sea and airports, as well as bus terminals.
This, as he lamented that Nov. 1 and 2 this year fall on a Saturday and a Sunday without any declaration of non-working holidays. “Para akong nalugi upon learning that Nov. 1 and 2 fall on a Saturday and Sunday,” he said.
Unlike in the past, Pres. Aquino has not declared Oct. 31 a special non-working holiday. Managers of both the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) have announced measures to cope with the expected increase in the volume of motorists this weekend.
All road works at NLEx and SCTEx will be suspended from October 29 to November 3. The Tollways Management Corporation (TMC) said additional manpower such as traffic management and security personnel, toll tellers, and patrol officers would be deployed in both expressways.
“Ambulant tellers will be on standby at the Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, and Dau toll plazas on October 31 and November 1 and at the Bocaue toll plaza from November 1 to 3. Spare lanes will be opened on October 31 and November 1 at Dau and on November 1 and 2 at the Bocaue toll plaza or as necessary,” TMC also announced.
NLEx will implement its motorist assistance program, “Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko” from October 30 to November 2 in all nine fuel stations in NLEx and one fuel station in San Fernando Expressway (SFEx). It’s meant to provide free first aid treatments and basic mechanic services to motorists travelling along these roads.
TMC also said that on October 31, there will be additional patrol crews and traffic marshals at Ciudad de Victoria (Philippine Arena) in NLEx-Bocaue to manage the Excellence in Visual Media Awards where at least 65,000 people are expected to attend.
