Metro police chief Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said police and military personnel will be deployed to the streets starting at 4 a.m., or about the same time that the transport strike commences.
Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) trucks and other vehicles will also be fielded to ferry stranded commuters to their destinations if the planned strike cripples public transport.
Razon warned drivers and their supporters to respect the law as the police would not hesitate to arrest them if they resort to violence or coerce fellow drivers into joining the mass action.
"We will be everywhere to protect not only drivers who continue to ply their routes but also the striking drivers," Razon said.
The Metro police chief said that he respects the right of drivers to air their demands, grievances and gripes against the government but it should be "within the bounds of the law."
He emphasized that acts like blocking the streets, burning of tires, scattering of spikes and other unlawful activities "would be dealt with accordingly."
Razon pointed out that while members of the transport sector have rights to demonstrate, other sectors also have the right to continue with their daily routine.
Joining today’s strike were members of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Alliance (MJODA), Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Transport Operators at Drivers Nationwide (PISTON), and the Philippine Confederation of Drivers Organization-Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators (PCDO-ACTO).
Two major transport groups — the North East Manila Bus Operators Group (NEMBOG) and Pasang Masda — would, however, continue plying their route.
"There are some transport groups undecided as of this time, so we continue holding talks to persuade them not to join the strike," Razon told The STAR yesterday.
Pubic utility vehicle operators and drivers aim to paralyze the country’s major routes to press President Arroyo to immediately stop the increases in the price of petroleum products and to seek the abolition of the Oil Deregulation Law.
Mar Garvida, national president of PISTON, criticized the Arroyo administration for not junking the Oil Deregulation Law amid rising cost of fuel prices.
Garvida lamented that the President’s inaction reflects her lack of sympathy for the people, especially the poor.
Meanwhile, George San Mateo, spokesperson of PISTON, clarified that today’s transport strike would not include the issue on fare increase.
He asserted that an additional fare is not the solution to the current situation since a fare hike would be rendered useless if the continued rise in prices of fuel products is not averted.
San Mateo said their affiliates in Southern Tagalog will begin their transport strike at midnight while the rest of their members will begin their strike at 4 a.m. before proceeding to mass rally centers in Metro Manila, or their respective regions or provinces, together with militant and people’s organizations.
Simultaneous noise barrages at all rally centers nationwide will also be conducted at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., and 3 p.m. today.
The mass rally centers in Metro Manila include Cubao/Aurora Blvd. and Kalayaan Ave. corner Kamias Road in Quezon City; Ever Gotesco Grand Central in Monumento; Alabang City Terminal; the intersection of Taft, Harrison, and Redemptorist Road in Baclaran; Novaliches Bayan; Taytay, Rizal; Angono; Pier-South; Pasig City; and Welcome Rotonda also in Quezon City.
The transport strike is backed by militant groups Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU), Anakpawis, Bagong Alyansang Makabayan (BAYAN), Gabriela, Bayan Muna, and Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP). — With reports from Katherine Adraneda, Michael Punongbayan, Mike Frialde, Pete Laude