Transport officials gear for holiday exodus

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, who inspected on Wednesday the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and Paranaque Integrated Terminal Exchange, ordered the agencies to provide “comfortable, affordable, safe, secure and accessible service” to all passengers during the long weekend.

The DOTr has activated its “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos” to ensure the safety and comfort of passengers who will flock to terminals to return to their home provinces. Assistant Secretary Vigor Mendoza II, Land Transportation Office (LTO) chief, on Thursday ordered regional directors to ensure the road worthiness of all the passenger buses amid the expected influx of people to bus terminals.

Part of the order is the conduct of random drug testing on both the bus drivers and conductors. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chair Teofilo Guadiz III said safety is the responsibility of everyone, not just public utility vehicle operators and transportation authorities, but even the passengers.