Number of travellers in Oro to peak by weekend

• Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cagayan-de-oro/local-news/2015/10/29/number-travellers-oro-peak-weekend-438662
• Friday, October 30, 2015

By Alwen Saliring

PORTS and bus terminals in Cagayan de Oro City have began beefing up security in anticipation of the All Saints and All Souls Day weekend.

An official of the Cagayan de Oro City Police Office (Cocpo) said they have deployed extra personnel and are on 24-hour shifts to secure both bus terminals.

Police Station 3 commander PCI Ariel Philip Pontillas said help desks have been put up and said police will be strictly checking passengers’ baggages.

“Naa pud tay K-9 dogs para makatabang sa pag-detect sama sa bomba ug mga illegal nga droga and advise lang magsinabtanay and respetoay lang ta walay tuloray ilabi na kay dunay mga hamtong ug mga bata,” Pontillas said.

Pontillas said bus terminals are still beginning to fill with travellers on their way to their hometowns to pay respects to departed loved ones and they expect the number to swell just before the weekend.

An airport official likewise said the number of passengers have been increasing since Wednesday and said he expects the number of travellers to peak beginning Friday towards the weekend.

Airport manager Engineer Jose Bodiongan said aside from the normal protocols additional security measures have been set up.

“May overseer po tayo sa lahat ng mga kaganapan sa airport,” Bodiongan said.

Bodiongan said there is possibility that their operations will extend beyond the normal operations upon the request of airline companies.

“Kailangan nating i-accommodate ang mga pasahero so pag may request ang airline we will accommodate that dati nga hanggang 2am tayo ng madaling araw,” Bodiongan said.

Bodiongan said that ticket price will possibly rise up due to high demand but will still vary depending on when the ticket was purchased.

“Alam naman natin ang law of supply and demand, and sa pagpurchase ng ticket like karon ka maglukat ugma ka larga mahal gyud,” Bodiongan said.

Meanwhile, Coast guard Cagayan de Oro Station Commander Zenmond Duque said they have also monitored a slight increase of passengers since Wednesday.

“May mangilan-ngilan na ding increase and we are monitoring that lalo na yung arrivals and departures halos pare-pareho lang ang volume,” Duque said.

Duque advised the passengers to be mindful of their trip schedule to avoid being stranded inside the port compound.

Officials of bus terminals and ports remind the passengers to follow security procedures to avoid delays and for a smoother flow of operations.