Better safe than sorry for shoppers, commuters

Metro Manila residents should be ready for some inconvenience when doing their shopping or commuting in the next few weeks – a small price to pay for added assurance of safety.

Following Friday’s bus bomb attack in Quezon City that killed two persons, public transport systems, malls, restaurants and other establishments considered high-impact targets for terrorists are expected to implement tighter security checks.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Bayani Fernando has ordered public utility bus (PUB) operators to start conducting passenger inspections to prevent another bus bombing.

Fernando, who was at the scene of the bus explosion in Balintawak, Quezon City, said bus conductors should start checking baggage of passengers before allowing them aboard.

He pointed out that drivers and conductors should be more discriminating in picking up passengers. They should watch out for suspicious-looking persons carrying bags, the MMDA chief said.

Fernando also appealed to commuters to bear with the inconvenience that could result in longer travel times.

Integrated Metro Manila Bus Operators Association president Claire de la Fuente welcomed Fernando’s suggestions but said it would be difficult to fully implement such measures because of limited personnel.

De la Fuente said bus operators cannot afford to hire additional personnel for baggage inspection in each of their units.

In the case of shopping centers in Makati City, the city government and local police have started coordinating with administration and security departments to come up with ways to beef up security in their establishments.

Superintendent Jovito Gutierrez, Makati city chief of police, appealed to shoppers to be extra-patient as security personnel have been instructed to conduct thorough inspection of bags as well as vehicles entering parking areas.

The entire Makati police force has also been directed to conduct random inspections of suspicious-looking vehicles.

Checkpoints at randomly selected areas will also be set up to inspect vehicles. Gutierrez assured the public that all measures being implemented are within the bounds of the law and that their rights would not be violated.

He added that 70 officers from the National Capital Region Police Office has been deployed in Makati City to increase police visibility at the central business district.