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Monday, April 18, 2005
Security forces ready for transport strike
MANILA -- President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered Sunday the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Land Transportation Office (LTO), National Disaster Coordinating Council (NDCC) and the police to prepare for the transport strike Monday to ensure no commuters are stranded.
Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said the police have also been instructed to ensure a peaceful and orderly mass action.
"We don't want any chaos to happen on the streets. Our police must ensure that no one from the striking drivers would force other drivers to join the protest," Ermita said.
Among those joining Monday's nationwide strike are transport groups in the cities of Davao and Iloilo and the province of Pampanga.
Ermita said the military, through the NDCC, have been ordered to deploy trucks in strategic places to ensure that people will be able to report to their work and return home safely.
Ermita said they understand the issues raised by the rallyists but he noticed some transport groups are making up complaints to have a reason to hold a strike. He said some of the issues raised have already been explained and addressed by the government.
He said among these reasons are the complaints against the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and its implementation of traffic rules as well as the increases in prices of oil, spare parts and toll fees.
He added that Malacañang is well aware of these complaints and is trying to address them.
Ermita said the government has already explained that under a memorandum of agreement between the MMDA and the DOTC through its attached agency LTO, the MMDA is allowed to enforce traffic rules, including non-moving violations. (JMR)
(April 18, 2005 issue)
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