IN anticipation of the influx of Holy Week travelers, the Philippine Red Cross (PRC) said on Tuesday that its Holy Week safety-assistance operations has been placed on active status since March 27.
PRC Chairman Richard J. Gordon said the activation of the safety-assistance operations is meant to ensure immediate response should any emergency arise while many people travel to the provinces and visit churches in observance of Lent.
“We want to ensure the safety of the general public by setting first-aid stations, ambulance services and welfare desks in areas where people are likely to converge. We want to ensure that help will be readily available should any need arises,” Gordon said.
He added, that aside from the first-aid stations and welfare desks, they are also deploying volunteers and ambulances in public-convergence areas, such as the Ali Mall bus terminal at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Quezon City, and at the Batangas pier.
He added that the PRC also mobilized ambulances and volunteers along with the first-aid stations and welfare desks in gasoline stations, major highways, churches, parks, and other major crowded areas to offer assistance and emergency response to travelers.
In addition, the PRC also established coordination with major gasoline stations along the North Luzon Expressway, South Luzon Expressway, Southern Tagalog Arterial Road Tollway, and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway for the positioning of Red Cross first-aid stations and welfare desks that can assist commuters.
Gordon said they are also deploying volunteer lifeguards in crowded beaches, like Boracay in Malay, Aklan, and Puerto Galera in Oriental Mindoro, to immediately respond in case of any water-related incidents.
Meanwhile, PRC Secretary-General Gwendolyn Pang advised everyone to keep safe and be wary of accidents.
Pang also instructed the Red Cross chapters nationwide to coordinate with local government authorities for the duration of the operations, which is from March 27 to April 6.
“Let us be safe during our trips this Holy Week and keep the observance solemn. We should follow the safety rules and regulations to avoid accidents,” she said. She also reminded the public to be sun smart and maintain proper hydration to avoid sunburn and heat stroke.
DPWH assistance in place
TO provide public service to motorists and commuters, the Department of Public Works and Highways, with its network of 16 Regional Offices and 180 District Engineering Offices nationwide, set up from March 30 to April 6 “Lakbay Alalay” motorists assistance for the Lenten week.
Public Works Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said prompt and reliable assistance on normal and emergency situation will be provided by the DPWH personnel on a round-the-clock shift.
Other than the mobilization of Lakbay Alalay composite teams along national highways, the DPWH has prepared all national roads for the expected influx of vehicles through installation of informational and directional signs, potholes patching, provision of reflectorized pavement markings and warning signs with clear and safe sight distance on all on-going construction projects.
Although there are ongoing construction works at several portions of national highways, the DPWH has made an effort to minimize traffic congestions with the posting of advisories for available corresponding alternate routes, including distances of entry and exit points, and has coordinated with the concerned local governments, the National Police and the Land Transportation Office for traffic management.
The ongoing construction of Subec Bridge in Pagudpud and San Lorenzo Bridge in San Nicolas, as well as road-widening activity in Bacarra and Pasuquin, are expected to slow down movement of vehicles at Manila North Road in Ilocos Norte.
Works are also ongoing at intermittent sections of Manila North Road in the following areas: Sinait, Cabugao, Magsingal, Bantay and Santa in Ilocos Sur; Bacnotan, Aringay and Agoo in La Union; and Villasis, Urdaneta and Sison, in Pangasinan.
For land travellers heading south using the Daang Maharlika (Manila South Road), the following projects will slow down movement of Holy Week travellers: on-going road widening works at Candelaria, Tiaong and Sariaya in Quezon and construction of Labo, Bulala, and Cabuluan Bridges in Camarines Norte; and construction of San Jose Bridge in Pili, Camarines Sur.