CAMP OLIVAS, Pampanga — The entire Central Luzon police force was placed on full alert status on Friday over the plan of some transport groups in this province to join the nationwide strike on October 15 and 16 in protest of the government’s gradual plan of phasing out public utility jeepneys (PUJs).
Philippine National Police-Police Regional Office Region 3 (PNP-PRO3) Regional Director , Chief Supt. Amador V. Corpus, said the full alert was raised to ensure the safety and security of the commuting public that might be affected by the transport strike.
Corpus said he has directed all unit commanders within the region to strictly monitor the areas of convergence of public transport drivers and operators.
“I also asked them to ensure high state of operational readiness to thwart any action that may be launched by some groups,” he said.
To assist the stranded passengers, he said the PNP-PRO3 will deploy trucks, buses and other vehicles.
Meanwhile, the city government of San Fernando declared the suspension of classes on Monday from pre-elementary to college levels, both in public and private schools due to the looming transport strike.
Jeepney drivers and operators have been protesting the proposed public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program of the government.
Based on the program, public utility vehicles that are over 15 years old will be banned from the national highways and will be replaced with “low-carbon and low-emission technology” vehicles. (Zorayda Tecson/PNA)
