THE Philippine National Police (PNP) and most of the local government units (LGUs) in the National Capital Region are providing free rides to assist commuters affected by the transport strike in key cities nationwide on Monday, September 30.
“Nakahanda ang PNP na magbigay ng seguridad para sa nakaambang nationwide transport strike. Panawagan ng PNP sa lahat ng lalahok dito, manatiling masunurin sa batas at huwag magtangkang gumawa ng anumang bagay na ikakaperwisyo ng publiko,” PNP spokesperson, Brigadier General Bernard Banac said.
(The PNP is ready to provide security during the transport strike. The PNP calls on the participants to obey the laws and avoid acts that will inconvenience the public.)
For its part, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) has mobilized some of their mobile patrols and other vehicles to give free rides to stranded commuters.
“We have coordination with the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority). If they need assistance we will provide. The NCRPO is monitoring the transport holiday. We have mobility equipment and other assets ready in order to assist affected passengers,” Major General Guillermo Eleazar, NCRPO chief, said.
Aside from catering to the stranded passengers, Eleazar said he also ordered his men to remain pro-active and dedicated to maintaining peace and order as well as the efficient deployment of police officers on the streets to ensure that no untoward incidents will take place.
Eleazar also reminded the Metro Manila Police commanders to maintain close coordination with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on any issue that may arise that needs to be addressed immediately.
Several areas in Central Luzon, Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), Negros Occidental, Metro Manila, Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela) are affected by the strike.
In Metro Manila, the MMDA has suspended the number coding scheme for public utility vehicles to help minimize the effect of the strike.
Aside from the PNP, some local government units have also deployed vehicles offering free rides to the public.
The Taguig City government said it will provide free rides from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the following routes.
· Bagumbayan to Pasig
· Tipas to Pasig
· FTI to Market Market
· Waterfun to Market Market
· DOST to East Service Road
· Gate 3 to Market Market
The pickup and drop-off points for the above routes will be at the following:
· Arca South
· C5 Water Fun
· Gate 3
· Bagumbayan
· DOST
· Tipas/Napindan
· Sta. Ana
· Tenement
· Tanyag
The City of Manila through its Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office has also deployed trucks and fire engines to give free rides.
The local government of Marikina and Quezon City also provided vehicles for the stranded passengers.
Thousands of drivers who are members of the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization (ACTO) and Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) joined Monday’s strike to express their opposition to the government’s public utility vehicles (PUV) modernization program, which will phase out jeepneys that are over 15 years old.
Piston president Mody Floranda, however, clarified that they are not against modernization of PUVs per se but are protesting the plan to phase out old jeepney units and cancel the franchises.
"Ang pinaglalaban po namin 'yung plano ng DOTR (Department of Transportation) at LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) na kami raw po ay tatanggalin na ng 2020, at 'pag July 1 ay mawawala na daw ang mga jeep at mga UV (Express) at papalitan na ito ng sinasabi nilang bagong modelo ng transportasyon dito sa ating bansa," Floranda said in a television interview.
"Kahit kailanman ay hindi po kami tumututol sa modernisasyon. Ang tinututulan namin dito ay bakit ina-absolute, bakit bahagi ng mga nilabas nila na MC (memorandum circular) No. 2017-011 ay tatanggalan kami ng mga individual na prangkisa at papahawakan sa malalaking mga korporasyon ang moda ng transportasyon dito sa ating bansa," he added.
The government’s PUV modernization program requires operators to replace their jeepneys with vehicles fitted with Euro-4 compliant engines as part of efforts to make an environment-friendly transport system in the country. (SunStar Philippines)