The Land Transportation Office will be under heightened alert status beginning 27 October until 4 November in observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ day this year.
LTO Assistant Secretary Teofilo Guadiz III said their “Oplan Biyaheng Ayos Undas 2022” will be focusing on securing the safety of passengers and motorists traveling during holidays.
“We are already anticipating our cemeteries to be teeming with more people during the week prior to All Saints’ Day compared to the previous two years since lockdowns and community quarantines have already been lifted,” he said in a media briefing.
He said a multi-sectoral coordination meeting among law enforcement groups, road management units, and other government line agencies was held to ensure that the preparations are all set for Undas 2022.
About 10,000 policemen will be deployed all over Metro Manila for Undas, National Capital Region Police Office spokesperson P/Lt. Col. Dexter Versola told Daily Tribune in its Gising Na! interview Tuesday.
Versola said the number does not include the so-called “force multipliers” like the barangay tanods who shall be deployed to help the police ensure the safety of people visiting cemeteries.
He said more Filipinos can be expected to visit their departed families and relatives following the restrictions due to Covid-19 in 2020 and 2021.
For its part, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it would field 1,500 personnel to ensure order in this year’s observance of Undas.
MMDA acting chairperson Carlo Dimayuga III said the personnel would be deployed from 28 October until 2 November.
“No-day off, no-absent policy will be enforced among traffic enforcers for Undas,” Dimayuga said.
He said the agency is all set to undertake measures on traffic management, cleanup operations, road emergency and public assistance, and clearing of road obstructions in preparation for Undas.
During the inspection of several bus terminals in Cubao, Quezon City yesterday, Dimayuga reiterated that provincial buses are only allowed to utilize the designated back door exits to avoid traffic gridlock on EDSA.
Among the bus terminals inspected were Five Star and Baliwag Transit located along EDSA.
The Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program or number coding scheme is suspended on 31 October, and 1 November, both special non-working holidays.