The Department of Public Works and Highways has reactivated its “Lakbay Alalay” project to assist motorists during the observance of All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said that starting Oct. 31, DPWH “Lakbay Alalay” Team will provide prompt and reliable assistance to motorists and travelers going to visit their departed loved ones.
“Lakbay Alalay” is an annual public service program of DPWH nationwide through the 16 Regional and 183 District Engineering Offices of providing immediate assistance to our motorists such as rescu-ing troubled vehicles, giving of directions especially to visitors and applying first aid in emer-gency situations, said Villar.
Villar instructed all Regional Directors and District Engineers to deploy composite teams on a round-the-clock shift at strategic locations more importantly along national highways leading public and private cemeteries as well as columbaria and churches where people visit and commemorate memories of dearly departed family members.
Villar has also reminded DPWH field units to keep national roads safe by implementing various highway routine maintenance activities on carriageway and roadsides including the installation of informative/regulatory warning signs or traffic advisories.
Also, DPWH is in close coordination with other government entities such as Land Transportation Office, Philippine National Police, and Local Government Units for any required assistance.
Meanwhile, the DPWH opens the first segments of CALAX covering Mamplasan Barrier to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange, in time for UNDAS.
“I’m sure many of our kababayans will take advantage of the time to do some family bonding and go on a road trip. I only see benefits in opening CALAX even on a single lane basis to decongest Laguna Boulevard, Aguinaldo Highway. We are at 90% completion, the remaining 10% of the works is being fast tracked while in operations,” Villar said
“Approximately 10,000 cars are expected to enter and exit through the 2 access points, Mamplasan entry for the westbound vehicles and Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Entry for the eastbound vehicles. This section will be about 10 minutes to drive. A big cut on travel time compared to the 45-minutes it currently takes to travel Mamplasan to Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay road.” He said. Le,
Meanwhile, the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency on Tuesday said that least 45 public transport personnel were found positive for illegal drugs out of the 4,862 of those who went through a surprise drug test dubbed "UndaSpot" last Monday.
Those tested positive include 24 bus drivers, 14 bus conductors, three jeepney drivers, two van drivers, one tricycle driver and one taxicab driver.
"The results are still undergoing confirmatory tests in PDEA forensic laboratories in the regions," the PDEA said.
The concerned drivers were not allowed to operate their vehicles pending confiscation of their licenses while undergoing rehabilitation process.
Last Oct. 28, PDEA, along with the Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and Philippine National Police proceeded to the Pasay City's terminals of JAC Liner and Philtranco Bus Line in Pasay as well as Quezon City’s terminals of Partas and Five Star to conduct a surprise mandatory drug test to drivers, conductors and even bus company personnel.
Director general Aaron Aquino ordered the mandatory drug testing of drivers to promote a drug-free public transport system all over the country, and urged the transport sector, most especially bus companies, to implement their own drug-free workplace program, particularly during the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day. In other developments, the Department of Labor and Employment has reminded private employers to give workers their proper wages on November 1 and 2, All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day, respectively, which are declared special nonworking holidays, while November 30 is a regular holiday.
Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III issued the advisory in pursuant to presidential Proclamation No. 555 declaring November 1 and 2 as special non-working holiday, and November 30 as regular holiday in commemoration of the birthday of revolutionary hero Andres Bonifacio.
For November 1, and 2 special non-working holidays, the following payment of wages should be observed: If the employee did not work, the “no work, no pay” principle shall apply, unless there is a favorable company policy, practice, or collective bargaining agreement (CBA) granting payment on a special day.
While, for work done during the special day, the workers shall be paid an additional 30 percent of their daily rate on the first eight hours of work.
For for November 30, a regular holiday, an employee who did not work shall be paid 100 percent of his or her salary for that day but if the employee worked on the said holiday, he or she shall be paid 200 percent of his or her regular salary for that day for the first eight hours.
In addition, if the employee worked in excess of 8 hours (overtime work), he or she shall be paid an additional 30 percent of his or her hourly rate on said day.