MANILA – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has carried out massive cleanup drives and repair works on national roads and bridges to ensure motorists’ safety and smooth travel for the observance of “Undas” (All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days).
In a news release Monday, the agency said it would also deploy composite teams to strategic locations nationwide from 8 a.m. on October 31 until 5 p.m. on November 2, under its “Lakbay Alalay” (travel assistance) program.
“We are expecting the influx of motorists for Undas 2024. We are mobilizing our Lakbay Alalay motorists’ assistance stations to provide prompt and reliable assistance to the traveling public,” Secretary Manuel Bonoan said.
The DPWH Lakbay Alalay teams are composed of uniformed field and crew personnel who will be working on round-the-clock shifts.
Before the onset of the motorist assistance program, DPWH regional and district engineering offices nationwide actively conducted routine maintenance activities along national roads, primarily in routes leading to cemeteries and churches.
Additionally, implementing offices with ongoing projects along major routes were ordered to align project schedules, including the installation of road safety signages and traffic advisories to prevent congestion and unwarranted accidents.
The DPWH is working closely with other government agencies, including the Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police, and local government units for needed assistance.
As of Monday noon, 13 national road sections remained closed to traffic in the aftermath of Severe Tropical Storm Kristine (international name Trami).
The DPWH said these include five in Bicol, three in Calabarzon, two in Central Luzon, and one each in Cagayan Valley, Mimaropa and Central Visayas.
These road sections are closed due to high water elevation, flooding, collapsed road, landslide, fallen electric posts, silted pavement, road collapse, rockslide and road slip.
Three national bridges are still impassable in Cagayan Valley, Calabarzon and Bicol due to collapse and flooding while 14 national road sections have limited access — 11 in Bicol, two in Calabarzon and one in Cordillera due to road slip, flashflood, scoured reinforced concrete pipe culvert, washed-out surfacing materials, and flooding.
Manila readies for ‘Undas’
Meanwhile, the city government of Manila inspected the South Cemetery on Monday to ensure the readiness of facilities and security measures.
Mayor Honey Lacuna said the inspection is part of the city’s proactive efforts to guarantee a safe, orderly, and accessible experience for residents and visitors paying respects to their departed loved ones.
She is set to meet with cemetery administrators, security personnel, and public service teams to assess preparations, including crowd management plans, medical stations, and clean-up operations.
“Mahalagang tradisyon ang Undas para sa pamilyang Manileño. Kaya naman nais nating maging taimtim, maayos, ligtas, at komportable ang pagbisita ng bawat isa sa mga sementeryo ngayong taon (Undas is an important tradition for Manileño families. This is why we want their visit to the cemeteries this year to be solemn, orderly, safe and comfortable),” she added.
19K cops up for deployment
The Philippine National Police(PNP) on Monday said it will be deploying 18,802 police officers to secure the observance.
PNP spokesperson Brig.Gen. Jean Fajardo said this deployment comes with an instruction for local police commanders to set up police assistance desks (PADS) near cemeteries, columbaria, memorial parks and other areas of public convergence.
However, she added that the authority to decide on the security alert status of certain areas is left to the local police commanders, particularly the regional directors.
“Normally in this kind of major events, the field commanders are given the discretion to adjust the alert levels depending on the situation on the ground and based on their assessment,” Fajardo said in a press briefing. (With Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)