MIAA, PAL ready for surge in travelers

MANILA, Philippines - The Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) and Philippine Airlines (PAL) have declared readiness to accommodate the volume of travelers during the Holy Week.

PAL said it is adjusting its operations by adding six extra flights to three destinations while upgrading 20 international and two domestic flights by using bigger aircraft.

Airport officials appealed to the public to allow more time for traffic as PAL’s additional flight would be to/from Puerto Princesa on April 8, to/from Taipei on April 8 and to/from Hong Kong on April 9 to fly home vacationers.

Flights to be upgraded to a bigger aircraft with more seats are those going to/coming from Shanghai (Pudong airport) on April 4; Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai, Taipei and Xiamen on April 5; Puerto Princesa on April 7; Hong Kong, Beijing, Xiamen on April 8; and another Xiamen flight on April 9.

Meanwhile, PAL domestic operations on Good Friday, Black Saturday and Easter Sunday would be trimmed down with the cancellation of 38 flights to seven destinations in order to allow PAL staff to observe the Holy Week.

On Good Friday, flights to/from Cotabato, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Davao, Iloilo, Tacloban and Zamboanga will be cancelled. On Black Saturday, some of the flights to/from Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Davao are cancelled. On Easter Sunday, one flight each to Cebu, Cagayan de Oro and Zamboanga are also cancelled.

PAL is advising passengers to arrive earlier than usual at the airport, double check their travel documents and minimize bringing bulky carry-on baggage.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), on the other hand, implemented measures along EDSA for provincial buses.

Passenger buses coming from Cubao are required, starting tomorrow, to exit their terminals through the backdoor.

Tolentino said the traffic plan for the bus units leaving for the provinces has been approved by the Quezon City government.

Northbound buses can pass through Kamias road going to New York and Montreal Streets.

Southbound buses, on the other hand, can use Araneta terminal and P. Tuazon.

“The re-routing aims to ease the traffic flow in Aurora Boulevard for private vehicles,” said Chief Inspector Madel Pedrezuela.

Pedrezuela added taxi drivers should also use the terminal backdoors to pick up and drop passengers.

She said the rerouting scheme would last until Easter Sunday.

At the same time, the MMDA announced that the number coding in Metro Manila is lifted starting today.

MMDA said the number of people leaving Metro Manila is expected to increase starting Tuesday.

On the other hand, the police had set up motorist assistance centers along the national highway in Central Luzon.

Police regional director Chief Superintendent Edgar Ladao has ordered all provincial and city police directors to establish police assistance centers in their respective area of responsibility.

Ladao said the regional police Highway Patrol Group headed by Senior Superintendent Sheldon Jacaban have deployed personnel along the stretch of the national highway to assist local policemen in supervision of traffic flow.

Police medical teams were also set up in several police assistance centers.

Several volunteer radio groups were also deployed and are ready to respond in any emergency, Ladao said.

Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo also called on local officials to check the safety compliance of all resorts in their locality.

Robredo instructed local officials to check out the permits of swimming resorts and diving spots to ensure safety of their patrons.

“During the hot summer months, particularly during the observance of Holy Week, a lot of people, particularly students and workers who are on a long vacation, tend to go to the various swimming and diving sites in many parts of the country to cool off and enjoy their vacation,” he said. – With Aie Balagtas See, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Ric Sapnu