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By Francis Earl A. Cueto, Reporter
THE Department of Transportation
and Communications on Sunday appealed to Filipinos who would be
using the department’s free calls not to abuse the service as it
will be on an emergency basis for those who would encounter road
problems during the Holy Week.
Transportation Spokesman and
LTFRB Chairman Thompson Lantion appealed to the people to limit
their calls or short messaging services they may use at DOTC Action
Centers that would be erected on land, air and sea ports and even on
expressways.
“We are appealing to the public
to make good use of the facilities by not abusing them and allowing
other people to use it as well since this is for everybody,” he
said.
Transportation and Communications
Secretary Leandro Mendoza earlier reactivated Oplan Kalakbay 2007 to
assist thousands of travelers on land, air and sea who are expected
to go to their hometowns and return to their work places during and
after the Holy Week.
The Oplan Kalakbay is a yearly
undertaking of the DOTC in coordination with its attached agencies
designed to assist motorists and provide safety and convenience to
land, air and sea commuters during the observance of Holy Week,
starting tomorrow, April 2, when the mass trek to the provinces is
expected to start.
Oplan Kalakbay will be in full
operation up to April 9, following the observance of Easter Sunday
on April 8. This is the day when most vacation goers return to Metro
Manila after spending the Holy Week in their hometowns. The focus of
the holidays is on April 5, Holy Thursday; April 6, Good Friday; and
April 7, Easter Sunday.
During the Kaakbay operations,
DOTC Action Centers will deploy field teams to conduct monitoring
and extend assistance to passengers in major seaports, airports and
bus terminals.
The teams will be equipped with
basic first-aid kits, radio transceivers and mobile phones. They
will be monitored round-the-clock by the DOTC Action Center command
located at the DOTC Headquarters, 2nd Floor, The Columbia Tower,
Ortigas Avenue, Mandaluyong City.
Mendoza urged the public to call
the DOTC Action Center Hotline 7890 (Or 02-780 for long distance
calls), which is available 24 hours during the implementation of the
Oplan Kalakbay for transportation related queries, complaints and
incidents.
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