Courtesy: Mashable SEA
DESPITE the government’s concessions to extend the transport modernization deadline by the end of the year, a week-long transport strike is reported to push-through on Monday.
In preparation to this scheme, PMGen. Edgar Alan Okubo, Regional Director, NCRPO, ordered the five police districts, and Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) to launch “Libreng Sakay” to start at 1:00 AM of March 6, 2023 onwards.
Okubo also instructed the District Directors (NEMSQ) and the Force Commander (RMFB) to account their men to be deployed for safety and security purposes and make an inventory of their mobility and logistical assets in anticipation for this week-long strike.
A total of 10 vehicles including five Hino shuttle buses, one JAC mini bus, two Isuzu trucks, and Hino trucks will be mobilized during the transport strike to ferry affected commuters all over the metropolis.
This initiative aims to accommodate the needs of the public who will be greatly affected by the said transport strike. If necessary, all vehicles for patrol operations will be utilized for “Libreng Sakay” too.
The five district chiefs were further directed by Okubo to coordinate with the LGUs on their respective jurisdictions to determine the exact locations as to where the augmentation trucks, buses and patrol vehicles be deployed.
NCRPO personnel to be deployed
Further, a total of 4,356 NCRPO personnel will also be deployed in different areas of concern particularly on passenger pick up and drop off points to respond in any adverse situation that may transpire arising from the misunderstanding between the groups of drivers who will join the strike and those who will not.
The deployment includes 700 Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) contingents, 1,019 in major thoroughfares, 569 in transportation hubs/terminal, 582 in commercial areas, 611 in other places of convergence, and 875 Reactionary Standby Support Force (RSSF) personnel will be placed on stand-by ready to be deployed at anytime.
Okubo also stressed out that the deployment will persevere until the termination of the transport strike and the situation returns to normal.
In a message, PMGEN Okubo said, “We wanted to ensure readiness to address all foreseeable circumstances and to immediately respond should our presence and assistance be necessary during the transport strike.
Constant coordination with the LGUs and other government agencies will be made to identify other concerns that are needed to be addressed on the ground.”
He added, “Naiintindihan ng inyong kapulisan sa NCRPO ang hirap na pinagdadaanan ng ating mga commuters dito sa Metro Manila. Lalo pa ngayon na may isasagawang transport strike, kung kaya’t ang buong pwersa ng kapulisan ng NCRPO ay handang magpaabot ng tulong sa paraang aming makakayanan upang mabawasan ang hirap ng ating mga kababayang maaapektuhan ng nasabing transport strike sa susunod na linggo.”
