By Liza Soriano
MANILA — Senator Nancy Binay told transport authorities that they must ensure that those traveling for the holidays will not have “unpleasant and frustrating” experiences.
Binay said she expects that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) will work hard to ensure that the technological issues and power outages that severely hampered airport and aviation operations on January 1 and May 1 of this year won’t occur again.
“I am positive that the DOTr has already made concrete steps to prevent any operational disruptions during this Christmas travel peak. Sana self-aware na ang ating mga opisyal ng DOTr dahil ayaw na rin nating maulit muli yung nangyaring ‘di magandang experience ng mga kababayan nating byahero nitong taon,” Binay said.
Last January and May, power outages at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) terminal grounded and canceled over 600 flights and left tens of thousands of passengers stranded.
“Hindi lamang po sa airports ang ating bantayan. Kailangan din po nating tutukan ang mga pantalan at mga pampasaherong barko, mga bus sa public terminals, at iba pang mga mode of transportation–tiyak na magdadagsaan ang mga magbabakasyon para makahabol sa pasko’t bagong taon,” Binay said.
“Ang punto po natin ay maging maayos at matiwasay ang pagbabyahe ng mga kababayan nating uuwi sa kani-kanilang probinsya without also compromising safety and security. Inaasahan po natin na lahat ng mga barkong maglalayag ay sea-worthy at walang overbooking. Even in our bus terminals, there should be a simplified system for passengers to have a convenient way through security screenings,” the senator added.
(IAmigo/MNM)
