CEBU, Philippines- With the start of the Holy Week, the municipality of San Remigio is getting ready for the influx of passengers at Hagnaya wharf, the gateway to Bantayan Island.
San Remigio Mayor Mariano Martinez called a meeting last week with the Hagnaya United Porters Association (HUPA), local officials, and concerned agencies to firm up their plans for the Lenten season.
In a phone interview with The FREEMAN, Martinez said the town has requested the Philippine National Police and the Cebu Provincial Government for the augmentation of the security force at the port starting today.
He said they are expecting the volume of passengers going to Bantayan Island for the observance of the Lenten season to increase tomorrow and Wednesday.
He added that huge volume of passengers flocking to the port was already even observed over the weekend.
“But wa pa man ta’y problema ‘sab nakita gahapon (Saturday). I am mobilizing more people now than last year,” said Martinez.
In anticipation of the huge volume of passengers, the town will be coordinating with the Cebu Port Authority for the possibility of having shipping companies send more vessels to ferry the passengers during the peak days.
Health station, tents, and railings will also be put up at the port.
Martinez advised the passengers to plan their trip ahead and consider leaving the mainland earlier to avoid rush and traffic congestion at the port.
Meanwhile, situation at the Cebu South Bus Terminal, where passengers have started flocking over the weekend, was still “manageable”.
Ramon Dumayac, Jr., operations manager of CSBT, said over the phone that the terminal management has started putting up tents as extension of the passengers’ waiting lounge.
He said additional personnel, as well as members of the security force, will be fielded starting today.
The terminal management is also expecting shortage of buses during the peak day, which is on Wednesday.
But Dumayac said there will be augmentation from the local government units and bus operators. (FREEMAN)