THE holiday season is a time when many Filipinos travel to their respective provinces to spend quality time with family and friends, while others go out to discover the beauty of their own nation.
People are expecting a heavier flow of traffic, higher pricing for Christmas-related things, and, of course, higher crime rates as more people come to immerse themselves outside of their houses as the eagerly anticipated Yuletide season approaches.
To make the most of your holiday travel and ensure a safe and happy experience, Manila Police District (MPD) PIO Major Philipp Ines gave some travel advice or reminders for the travel season, designed for every individual wanting to travel via public transportation.
The crowded public transit
Bus travels are always expected to be crowded and chaotic as citizens return to their different provinces. Given that most modus operandi occur in congested areas, the general public must be informed of it.
“Usually kapag sumakay ka diyan, masisikip. So kailangan, aware ka sa paligid mo. Alam mo kung saan ba nakalagay ang cellphone mo, o saan ba dapat nakalagay ang cellphone mo,” says Major Philipp Ines.
“I-anticipate mo yung mga taong nasa paligid mo, lalo na’t kapag matagal ka ng sumasakay (sa bus), kapag may mga unusual na nangyayare sa loob. Kapag ka ganon, hawak mo na ang mga gamit mo, at wag mo silang pansinin,” he continued.
Meanwhile, other travelers may choose to take a taxi from or to the airport, or to go directly to their destinations. Some robberies have occurred inside cabs in the past, making this a phenomenon to expect or keep an eye out for.
“Bago ka sumakay, tignan mo ‘yung body number, body marking, check mo yung nakalagay sa gilid pagpasok mo ng taxi. Picturan mo at i-send mo sa pamilya o kaibigan mo.”
Instead of taking a picture of the plate number, as is customary, Major Ines insisted on focusing on the body number and body marking, as these aspects would be difficult to remove when compared to a plate number.
Some escape vehicles are even employing forged license plates to avoid a planned check. This is why he advises citizens to focus their attention on qualities that cannot be simply removed.
Finally, individuals who intend to ride a tricycle for shopping or simply to get around the metro should be aware of the transit taxes.
“Siguraduhin mo na ang sasakyan mo hindi colorum. Kailangan aware ka palagi. Bago ka sumakay, kapag hindi ka talaga pamilyar sa lugar, tanungin mo agad magkano ang pamasahe papunta sa isang lugar,” he says.
He mentioned the example of a foreigner YouTuber who was initially requested to pay fifty pesos but was then asked to pay 500 pesos.
Major Philipp Ines, MPD PIO, also reminded the public to be aware of their surroundings at all times. Being aware for him is not enough, since most of us must always be involved in keeping the neighborhood secure.
“Ang pagsugpo sa krimen, dapat may pakialam ka. May napansin ka, may nakita ka, at kinipit balikat mo. Dapat mai-report mo agad kapag kahina-hinala, para maprevent natin ang anumang krimen.”
