In line with the activation of the Oplan Biyaheng Ayos: Undas 2024 in all transport hubs in the country, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista, along with other transport officials, inspected the Manila North Harbor Port today, 31 October 2024.
The inspection started at the port’s newly improved Passenger Terminal Building (PTB), where the Secretary monitored the flow of passengers and checked on its array of facilities, including the designated rooms for senior citizens, pregnant women, and persons with special needs, prayer room, waiting area, kids’ playground, and restrooms, among others.
As the inspection rolled out, Bautista warmly conversed and engaged with passengers in line to board the vessels.
Moreover, the transport chief went on board a 2GO maritime vessel, which can carry up to 800 passengers per trip, to inspect its features and capabilities to efficiently service passengers even with the passenger volume surge.
Bautista assured the commuting public that the Department, along with its maritime sector agencies, is in full force to uphold the overall welfare of the commuting public, especially in the coming peak seasons.
“My marching orders sa PCG, PPA, at MARINA ag siguraduhin na ‘yung inspection ng vessels ay tama. Sigurado na sea-worthy. And also ang OTS naman, together with PPA, ang instruction namin ay siguraduhin na secured din yung mga vessels,” Bautista said.
He added, “Ang PPA, CPA, MARINA, at PCG ay handa.”
Other transport officials who joined Bautista in the inspection were DOTr undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Jesus Ferdinand Ortega, assistant secretary for Road Transport and Non-Infrastructure and SAIC vice chairman Jose Tracker Lim, PCG deputy commandant for administration, Rear Admiral Edgar Ybañez, OTS administrator undersecretary Crisaldo Nieves, and PPA assistant manager Mark Jon Salares Palomar.
