By Mariela Angella Oladive
Commuters can expect uninterrupted bus service this Holy Week, as Vallacar Transit Inc. (VTI), operator of Ceres Liner, confirmed there will be no trip cancellations nationwide.
According to Jade Marquez, VTI’s public information officer, suspending operations during the Holy Week rush would violate Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) policies.
Instead, the company will reschedule trip dispatches to better manage passenger flow and ensure smooth operations.
As part of its preparations, VTI is enforcing strict safety protocols amid the expected surge in passengers.
These include regular drug testing for drivers, ongoing vehicle maintenance, and a strict ban on standing passengers and overloading.
“We do not allow standing passengers. This is a safety protocol we implement consistently to protect our commuters,” Marquez said in a radio interview.
Passengers are encouraged to report any violations observed during their trips.
Marquez assured the public that disciplinary action will be taken against any driver or conductor who fails to comply with company policies.
“We urge passengers not to hesitate in reporting any issues. They can reach out to our offices directly or contact us through our hotlines,” she added.
To monitor compliance, inspectors have been deployed along major routes to ensure buses operate within prescribed capacity and guidelines.
Meanwhile, the Iloilo City Traffic and Transportation Management Office (TTMO) announced it will implement temporary traffic schemes and road closures from April 16 to April 20, particularly in port areas such as Lapuz Wharf and Parola Wharf.
TTMO head Uldarico Garbanzos said the adjustments are necessary to maintain order and safety amid the expected influx of port passengers.
Designated loading, unloading and vehicle queuing areas will be set up at the RoRo Wharf in Lapuz.
Inbound queuing will be located along sections of Rizal Street and the Lapuz-Mansaya Loboc Road.
A similar traffic scheme will be implemented at Parola Wharf, where tricycles, taxis and public utility jeepneys (PUJs) will be confined to specific zones.
A portion of Libertad-Lapuz will also be closed to traffic, resulting in a one-way scheme from Rizal Street to Muelle Loney Street.
Vehicles will not be allowed to cross Drilon Bridge during the road closure period.
Motorists traveling from Libertad-Lapuz to Muelle Loney are advised to use Quirino Bridge as an alternate route leading to Rizal Street.
Modernized passenger boats between Iloilo and Guimaras will continue to operate on a regular schedule during Holy Week.
The Iloilo–Jordan route will run from 4 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Holy Thursday and from 4 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Good Friday.
The Iloilo–Buenavista route will follow its usual schedule.
All boat routes will resume normal operations on Black Saturday.
