Number coding lifted on October 30

MANILA, Philippines - The Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or number coding scheme will be suspended tomorrow, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has announced.

This would give more flexibility to Metro Manila residents as they go about their plans during the Halloween break, MMDA officer-in-charge Emerson Carlos said yesterday.

The number coding scheme is lifted during weekends.

Carlos said the number coding scheme will resume on Nov. 2, a regular working day.

Provincial buses, however, will be exempted from the number coding scheme on Monday in anticipation of the large number of people returning to Metro Manila.

Traffic managers of local government units in Metro Manila who were present during MMDA’s Oplan Kaluluwa meeting recently have presented their respective road re-routing plans for the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day.

Traffic division heads of Quezon City, Makati City, Mandaluyong City, Pasig City, Pasay City, Valenzuela City, Las Piñas City, Muntinlupa City, and San Juan City have put in place necessary directional signs and personnel in critical areas, particularly on roads leading to cemeteries and memorial parks.

NCRPO, AFP on alert

The 19,000-strong National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will be placed on full alert starting today in preparation for the commemoration of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day.

Newly promoted NCRPO chief Director Joel Pagdilao said police assistance desks will be set up in front of 98 private and public cemeteries in Metro Manila starting today.

“We will deploy our uniformed policemen in cemeteries starting 6 a.m. tomorrow,” Pagdilao said yesterday. “I will be inspecting them and the police assistance desks.”

Starting today, vehicles will no longer be allowed to enter cemeteries.

Pagdilao urged motorists to park their cars in areas designated by the police and local government units.

After inspecting police deployment in cemeteries, Pagdilao will also inspect bus terminals in Cubao, Quezon City; Caloocan City; Pasay City and other areas in Metro Manila, seaports, airports, and train stations.

Aside from cemeteries, the NCRPO chief said policemen will also secure vital government and private installations like embassies, commercial centers and shopping malls.

No Halloween break

The Armed Forces, for its part, yesterday said its anti-terror operations in Sulu and Basilan will continue during the Halloween break.

“There will be no Halloween break for our soldiers engaged in our law enforcement operations against the bandits. There will no letup in our campaign against these lawless elements,” Col. Noel Detoyato, AFP Public Affairs Office chief, said in a press briefing.

The Abu Sayyaf is holding several foreign and local hostages in Sulu.

Detoyato added that soldiers in Metro Manila will also be deployed in cemeteries to help police personnel secure these areas.

Code White Alert

Meanwhile, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday that all of its 70 retained hospitals will be placed on Code White Alert starting tomorrow until Monday in preparation for any health incidents that may occur during the observance of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day.

“A Code White Alert is declared when there is a mass gathering or national event and there is a possibility of emergency conditions that may need immediate medical attention. All medical teams are on standby for immediate mobilization,” Health Secretary Janette Garin said.

Code White Alert, which is based on Administrative Order No.2008-0024, also refers to the readiness of hospital manpower like general and orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, internists and nurses to respond to emergencies.

Pinoys’ version of trick or treat

In a related development, the National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA) yesterday said the Filipino version of trick or trick during Halloween still exists in some rural areas.

Called the pangangaluluwa, a group of young boys and girls pretends to be lost souls or souls in purgatory and sing songs outside houses.

In return, the houses that they visit would have to give them food, such as rice cakes, or money, before they return to the land of the dead.– With Non Alquitran, Jaime Laude, Evelyn Macairan, Sheila Crisostomo, Cecille Suerte Felipe