‘Don’t bring sharp objects’

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — The head of the government’s task force Oplan Kalakbay 2004 yesterday urged commuters taking buses, ships or airplanes to various destinations in the country not to bring sharp objects during their travel to minimize delays.

Security will be tightened at departure areas due to unconfirmed terrorist threats.

Marlene Ochoa, assistant vice president for information and external affairs of the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC), told The STAR yesterday that 30 motorcycle units, 18 patrol cars, 20 tow trucks, four cranes and several paramedic buses and ambulances will be on standby starting today at the North Luzon Expressway (NLE) as the number of vehicles passing through the expressway is expected to double in the next few days.

Ferdinand Lagman, national coordinator of the Oplan Kalakbay 2004, appealed to commuters for patience and understanding for the delays that will be caused by stringent security measures to be implemented by the police and the Department of Transformation and Communication (DOTC) action center personnel.

Dogs trained in sniffing illegal items in baggages will be used in some areas, Lagman said in a telephone interview.

"To avoid inconvenience, I advise commuters not to bring any sharp objects, even scissors if these are unnecessary, because they might end up being questioned and thus delay their travel. The objects could also be confiscated," he said.

Lagman added that his task force has already asked the Philippine Coast Guard to deploy at least two marshalls posing as civilians in every ship bound for any place in the country as a safety measure against saboteurs for the entire duration of the Lenten season.

Lagman also disclosed that the Land Transportation and Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has already issued special permits to other bus companies to fill in the transport needs of people going north after Philippine Rabbit personnel went on strike last Sunday.

"Enough buses have been pulled out from routes where demand is less so that they could replace even temporarily the vacuum created by the strike," Lagman said.

Meanwhile, Ochoa said that all work along the north bound lane of the North Expressway will be suspended starting today and until Holy Thursday to provide more room for motorists on the expressway.

"The Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) will deploy 289 personnel to assist motorists along the North Luzon expressway for the Holy Week," she said.