Tuesday, March 11, 2008 Cops, soldiers on full alert for transport strike
POLICE and military have declared full alert status in Metro Manila and nearby provinces for Tuesday's transport strike to be staged by various transport groups that are denouncing alleged abuses by local government units (LGUs) in enforcing traffic laws.
This as the transport groups vowed to push through their strike after a last-ditch effort by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Metro Manila mayors failed to avert the planned action on Monday afternoon.
National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Chief Geary Barias has ordered the declaration of full alert in the metropolis effective at 6 p.m. Monday. Earlier, the military's National Capital Region (NCR) Command declared red alert in the metropolis.
NCRPO spokesman Rhodel Sermonia said hundreds of police vehicles would be deployed to Metro Manila's major thoroughfares to mitigate the effects of the strike.
Sermonia said the Quezon City Police District (QCPD) under Senior Superintendent Magtanggol Gatdula would send to the city's streets at least 192 multicabs to provide transportation to stranded passengers.
He said the NCRPO would dispatch 12 trucks, while the five police districts -- including the QCPD -- would provide six more trucks.
The Manila Police District (MPD) would also provide 28 multi-cabs, he said.
Sermonia added that each NCRPO police district would place at least 100 policemen, ready to respond to any emergency. The policemen would be on top of 200 Regional Special Action Unit on standby and a team of intelligence men who would observe in the streets.
National Police Chief Avelino Razon Jr. assured their readiness to provide assistance to motorists and commuters who will be affected by the strike.
"We will field transportation assets of the PNP (Philippine National Police) to augment the lack of transportation assets in the areas where there will be paralyzation," he said during Monday's press briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.
Razon said he has also made coordination with the Armed Forces leadership for the availability of military vehicles to provide free rides along major thoroughfares.
"All the police and military mobile assets combined will not be enough to fill the transport requirements of the commuting public, but certainly this will be of help," he said.
The PNP chief also warned the striking drivers and operators against harassing fellow drivers and operators who would not be participating in the transport strike.
"We will enforce the law. It is against the law to coerce (into a strike) those who would not join," he said.
When asked how the police force will monitor the possible harassments of the non-participating drivers and operators, Razon said: "There will be plainclothes men to monitor areas and implement the law."
PNP spokesman Nicanor Bartolome said the PNP would conduct normal law enforcement and public safety operations when transport groups go on strike on Tuesday.
"The general guidelines on mass actions under Batas Pambansa 880 will be strictly observed. Barricades, street bonfires, coercion of non-participants and other similar actions bordering on violence and anarchy are definitely illegal and will be addressed with appropriate police action," Bartolome said.
Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap) president Zeny Maranan said their 300,000 members nationwide would join the transport holiday since they could no longer bear the added burden of the various traffic ticketing system implemented by various LGUs in Metro Manila, which she added opened opportunities for extortion.
Maranan said they do not intend to pull out plans for a transport strike, given the local government's insistence on sticking with the controversial Metro Traffic Ticketing (MTT) system.
Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide (Piston) spokesman George San Mateo expressed confidence the strike would paralyze 100 percent of public transportation in the metropolis saying it was the first time that various groups are united for a common stand.
Aside from Fejodap and Piston, about 20 other transport groups would participate in the strike.
During the meeting called by MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, only three mayors, Feliciano Belmonte of Quezon City, Marides Fernando of Marikina and Joey Medina of Pateros attended while the rest sent their representatives and traffic bureau chiefs.
Fernando tried but failed to prevail upon the transport groups to call off their planned holiday saying the MMDA is addressing the issue and the signature of the mayors who supported the MTT's implementation should have been enough proof that the scheme would be implemented.
But he said they are prepared for any eventuality adding that they are coordinating with the Land Transportation Office (LTO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), while additional traffic enforcers will be deployed along major thoroughfares to complement local traffic enforcers and deputized officers.
The MMDA chief said they are also coordinating with LGUs to ensure that no untoward incident will take place if indeed the transport holiday pushes through.
As a last measure, the agency will field buses and service vehicles in areas that will be affected by the strike as part of "Oplan Libreng Sakay" in cooperation with the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) which re also deploying its own vehicles to ferry stranded passengers.
The MMDA said number coding would be lifted if the transport strike pushes through, but would remain in effect otherwise. (VR/AH/Sunnex)
