Gov’t braces for return of millions of Filipinos after long Holiday break

Government agencies are now bracing for the return of millions of people who are expected to go back to their homes and workplaces, especially in Metro Manila and other urban areas in the country, after a long Holiday break.

On the part of the Philippine National Police (PNP), its spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said all police forces across the country will remain on alert until this week, or the start of the time of normalization in schools and workplaces.

“We will continue our security measures and maximum police visibility especially that there is another big event that will happen, the Traslacion 2024,” said Fajardo.

The PNP earlier ordered maximum police visibility at the span of the Yuletide season, the security measures include police visibility in transportation hubs, conduct of checkpoints and target-hardening measures in other places of convergence.

But Fajardo also asked the travelers to exercise additional safety measures amid incidents of fatal road accidents during the Christmas exodus.

Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista also ordered all attached agencies of the department to ensure the security in all transportation hubs and safe travels of people until they return back to their homes and workplaces after the New Year revelry.

Over the weekend, Bautista inspected the Communications, Navigations, Surveillance / Air Traffic Management system at the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) compound as part of the travel safety measures.

During the inspection, Bautista was assured by CAAP personnel of the efficiency of the equipment in the CNS/ATM including the redundancy of the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) for the continuous operation of our air traffic control.

Bautista also checked the Philippine Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Center in CAAP for the search and rescue operation in case of an emergency and likewise reminded of the CAAP’s ‘No Leave Policy’ to address the needs of holiday rush travelers.

Additionally, 45 commercially operating airports under CAAP are still on heightened alert due to the expected increased volume of air passengers this peak season.

On the part of Philippine ports, Philippine Ports Authority (PPA) General Manager Jay Daniel Santiago said all their personnel remain on alert as they brace for the return travels of millions of Filipinos.

The PPA is expecting more than two million more passengers to troop to various ports across the country after the New Year revelry. — Aaron Recuenco