A top official of the Integrated Bus Terminal (IBT) in Tagbilaran City urged public utility vehicle passengers to be vigilant during the Holy Week exodus from the province’s capital which is expected to heavily congest the facility.

According to IBT supervisor Gloria Inting, passengers are projected to leave in droves starting Tuesday which, along with Wednesday, is usually the busiest day at the terminal during the Holy Week break.

While there are no reported security threats in Tagbilaran City, Inting still advised the riding public to be on the lookout for suspicious personalities and activities.

Inting assured passengers that their personnel will be carrying out inspections to ensure that drivers and conductors are not under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol, and vehicles are safe for travel.

The IBT official also warned against colorum or illegal public utility vehicles including vans-for-hire which operate outside the terminal.

These vehicles are unchecked while their drivers are unmonitored by Tagbilaran City officials, he said.

Last week, Tagbilaran City police chief Supt. Patricio Degay said that he will be requesting Camp Dagohoy for more police personnel to help secure the capital during the Holy Week, which started Sunday.

According to Degay, the TCPS is need of 30 more policemen to heighten police visibility in barangays of Tagbilaran City.

Degay said that this will improve the police’s response time to distress calls.

The TCPS has also coordinated with Church officials in the city to plan out security measures in churches which are expected to draw large crowds during the Holy Week, he added. (Joseph Rey Nano, HNU MassComm intern)