HPG: Ensure fitness for traffic“‹
The Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group reminded motorists to ensure their good physical state before hitting the road and joining the holiday rush.
PNP HPG Director PCSupt. Roberto Fajardo said the volume of vehicles currently plying major roads in Metro Manila has spiked by 26 percent, which makes motorists more prone to accidents.
Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority encouraged shoppers to go to malls nearest them, and as much as possible refrain from going to malls that require long travel to avoid being stuck in expected heavy traffic during the holidays.
The MMDA said malls are open from 11 a.m. onward, but it is up to the mall management to set what time they prefer to close.
Duterte in Davao for Christmas
President Rodrigo Duterte will again be spending Christmas Day in his home in Davao City, for the third consecutive year since assuming office in 2016.
“In Davao, every Christmas he does it [even] birthdays, he spends it with his family always. No frills,” Presidential Spokesman Salvador Panelo said in a Palace press briefing Friday.
Panelo said the President will pay a visit to sick children in hospitals in Davao, which the Chief Executive started doing during the Christmas Eve two years ago.
“That has always been the style of the President – to visit the handicapped. He’ll be there, you know the President is very soft-hearted to the handicapped, special children, and cancer patients,” he said. “There you will see his compassion, he shed tears every time.” Nat Mariano
Free Grab bus rides until Dec. 24
GRAB Philippines on Friday urged the riding public to take advantage of its free bus and jeepney rides until Dec. 24 in high-demand locations in the National Capital Region.
“Grab users can easily avail of the Grab Christmas express bus and jeeps by claiming their Christmas express unlimited pass from the in-app GrabRewards catalogue,” Cindy Toh, country marketing head, said. The ticket can be used multiple times, but is equivalent to one seat only.
The Grab P2P buses are operating from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. covering SM Megamall to SM North in partnership with Froehlich Tours Inc., and Mckinley Hill to San Lorenzo Place route from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. in partnership with Citylink Coach Services. Rio N. Araja
READ: Nancy: Public needs more rides this Christmas