By Ruben A. Veloria
SUBIC BAY FREEPORT, March 31 (PNA) — An influx of vacationers is expected here this summer and tourists trooping to Subic Bay area are guaranteed of a safe and enjoyable stay here.
Beaches in Barangay Barretto in Olongapo City, Subic Bay Freeport, and Barangays Matain and Calapacuan in Subic, Zambales are among the areas that tourists frequently visit in the Subic Bay Area.
The Local governments of Subic and Olongapo City and the Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), including the police and business groups, have prepared their contingency plans to provide safe visits to tourists.
SBMA chairman Roberto Garcia said that for the past weeks, maintenance and ground personnel were all busy with the facelift projects, making sure that everything in the Freeport zone is ready for the big influx of tourists, especially this Holy Week.
Road features were repaired and painted and directional signages were installed in strategic locations so that motorists will not be lost along the way.
Just in case, police outposts were placed were assistance can be sought.
Motorists’ assistance booths- where one can ask help concerning where-to-go, medical and police help, mechanic/towing assistance- can be found in some road sides.
Tourism-related businesses have already finished with the necessary renovations and upgrading of their facilities- beaches, hotels, restaurants and others.
For the Holy Week, devotees and religious groups will again see the traditional Lenten activities, such as Pabasa, Cenaculo, processions and Salubong at the San Roque Chapel here.
All these preparations, Garcia noted, were made to make sure that every moment spent by the tourists in the Freeport zone will be wonderful and worthwhile experience to share with friends back home.
In Olongapo City, Senior Inspector Jaime Bada, chief of Olongapo City Police Office (OCPO) Station 6 which covers Barangay Barretto, said that plans were already in progress based on the agreement of all stakeholders who attended the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management conference.
Bada said that the OCPO is in full support of the local government’s program to ensure safety of the tourists and their properties while in vacation in the city and implemented a number of mitigating measure to augment the safety efforts being implemented by the business owners.
“We have deployed personnel motorist assistance centers along the national highway where motorists can seek help,” said Bada, adding that each MACenter is being manned by police officers, mechanic, medical/rescue personnel and information officers.
Roving police officers will also be visible especially during weekends when volume of visitors is on its peak.
Beach and resort owners are required to detail at least one trained and certified life guard during business hour, depending on the volume of guests swimming in their beaches or pools.
To avoid road accidents and troubles while on the streets, strict implementation of a city ordinance which prohibits drinking alcoholic beverages along the streets will be observed.
Meanwhile, Antonio “Pocholo” Galian, branch manager of Victory Liner Inc. in Olongapo City, said that the bus company has conducted briefings for all drivers and conductors in relation to the safety of passengers while in the terminal or traveling on-board their buses.
Galian said that before each bus leaves the motor pool, it was checked for any possible problem on its engine and body, which includes the brake system, tires, lights, and air-conditioning system for aircon buses, among others.
He said that they also added security personnel detailed in the bus stations to assist the passengers and to provide extra manpower that will ensure safety of the riding public against snatchers, “salisi” and other forms of crimes.
“We are doing this everyday as a policy of ‘Safety First’. But summer vacation is different, we are expecting significant increase of tourists everyday and that requires preparations and planning to make sure that no one will be disappointed coming to Zambales for summer vacation,” he added. (PNA)