PNP assures assistance for stranded commuters during 3-day transport strike
(Courtesy of MANIBELA chairperson Mar Valbuena)
The Philippine National Police (PNP) said it has prepared mobility teams and assistance units to help commuters who may be stranded during the nationwide transport strike set from Tuesday, Dec. 9 to Thursday, Dec. 11.
Police Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr., acting PNP chief, said police personnel will not only secure protest sites but will also assess areas where additional transportation support is needed.
“Our personnel will be on the ground not only to secure the protest action but also to assess areas that need mobility assets for our kababayan who may be stranded,” Nartatez said.
He said police commanders have been directed to coordinate with local government units (LGUs) and concerned national agencies to ensure a unified response to maintain public safety and uninterrupted essential services.
“Our goal is to make sure that the protest action will be done peacefully and orderly similar to the same activities in the past,” he added.
Transport group MANIBELA is holding the strike to oppose what it calls excessive penalties and slow processing of government documents for public utility vehicle (PUV) operators.
The group also criticized the continued requirement for unconsolidated PUVs to secure provisional authorities, saying this only adds to the burden of operators.
Further, it said that jeepney operators and drivers continue to face fines despite complying with government requirements for franchise renewal, provisional authorities, and vehicle registration. It also reported that some traffic enforcers continue to confiscate documents, issue penalties, or pressure drivers to pay bribes to avoid additional violations.
For the PNP, Nartatez said police units will be posted at major terminals, key roads, and affected routes. Patrol cars and other police vehicles will be on standby to ferry commuters when necessary.
He emphasized that previous transport protests had ended peacefully due to coordination between transport groups and authorities.
MANIBELA has suggested it may extend the strike but Nartatez said the PNP’s security and commuter-assistance operations will remain in place for as long as they are needed.