Metro Manila braces for PUJ strike

MANILA, Philippines — In anticipation of the weeklong Metro Manila jeepney and UV Express strike which is set to start tomorrow, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will deploy up to 4,356 police officers to thwart any violence that may arise.

NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Edgar Allan Okubo said the security contingent will be deployed at different areas of concern, particularly at passenger pick up and drop off points.

“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,” he said in a statement.

Of those to be deployed, 700 are members of civil disturbance management teams (CDM) while 1,019 will secure major thoroughfares.

Okubo said they will assign 569 police officers in transportation hubs and terminals, 582 in commercial areas and 611 in other places of convergence.

The remaining 875 officers are members of the reactionary standby support force.

He said the police officers will intervene in the event there is a misunderstanding between jeepney drivers who are going to join the strike and those who will opt to ply their routes.

Police will start providing Libreng Sakay, or free rides, tomorrow starting at 1 a.m., using 10 vehicles consisting of five shuttle buses, four trucks and one mini bus.

Okubo ordered all five police districts in Metro Manila to coordinate with the local government units (LGUs) in their areas of jurisdiction to determine the areas where security augmentation is needed.

“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.” Okubo said.

‘Prepared’

Malacañang reiterated that the government is ready for tomorrow’s transport strike and is now finalizing emergency and asset prepositioning plans.
“The administration of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. reiterated on Saturday that it is prepared to deal with planned transport group strike on Monday, as an inter-agency team is readying contingencies to ease the impact of the disturbance,” Presidential Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said in a statement.
“The President, through the Office of the Executive Secretary, organized an Inter-Agency Monitoring Team in preparation for the transport group strike on Monday,” she added.

At a press briefing in Makati on Saturday, the Inter-Agency Monitoring Team gave details about possible scenarios in anticipation of the week-long jeepney and UV Express strike.

According to Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Acting Chairman Don Artes, they will be deploying four air-conditioned buses, two regular buses, two army trucks and commuter vans for stranded passengers during the week-long strike of the two transport groups.

“With MMDA alone, we will be able to accommodate 1,200 people on all our vehicles,” Artes said in a mix of Filipino and English.

He also added that the Philippine National Police (PNP) and Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) will deploy around 160 vehicles.

However, Artes said they will only be deploying the Libreng Sakay in places where there are stranded passengers.

The MMDA chairman explained that the reason behind the deployment is to give way to public utility vehicles who will not be joining the strike.

A “full deployment” of MMDA personnel will also be done to monitor the situation on the ground. The agency will also coordinate with LGUs and the PNP.

Social media and hotlines will be utilized in order to report places where there are stranded passengers.

Meanwhile, MMDA general manager Procopio Lipana told media that they are warning drivers who will take advantage of the situation and will monitor drivers who will overcharge passengers.

Lipana will be heading the monitoring team tomorrow and will also coordinate with LGUs with regard to the number of resources available.

“We can assure everyone that the government is prepared for this strike and we will lessen the inconvenience to public commuters,” Artes said.

Drivers’ groups Manibela first sounded the call for a strike to oppose the jeepney modernization program which aims to phase out old jeepney units and consolidate drivers into cooperatives. – Mark Ernest Villeza, Alexis Romero, Marc Jayson Cayabyab