LTO, BI act to ensure safe, orderly Holy Week travel

The Land Transportation Office (LTO) will be conducting random inspection of passenger buses as part of the road safety measures as millions of Filipinos are expected to travel to the provinces to take advantage of the long Lenten break next week.

- BY AARON RECUENCO and JEFFREY DAMICOG

On the other hand, the Bureau of Immigration (BI) will deploy more than 40 additional immigration officers to the country's international airports this coming Holy Week to ensure order in the country's gateway.

LTO chief Assistant Secretary Vigor D. Mendoza II said he already instructed all regional directors to prepare the necessary road safety plans that include deployment of personnel for enforcement and the conduct of inspections in bus terminals.

"My instruction is more on pro-active measures through visibility in major thoroughfares for assistance and law enforcement, and the conduct of random and surprise inspections on bus terminals to ensure the road worthiness of passenger buses," said Mendoza. "We also want to check on the physical and mental readiness of the drivers and conductors so if there is a need to conduct random and surprise drug testing, then we will do it."