By Analou De Vera
Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada assured commuters they are fully prepared to assist them if the two-day nationwide transport strike pushes through on Monday as spearheaded by the No to Jeepney Phase-out Coalition (NTJPOC) and the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON).
He went on to downplay the strikers’ efforts.
“I believe it won’t paralyze public transportation here as with the previous nationwide transport strike last October. But just the same, we alerted all our emergency units to deal with any eventualities,” the mayor said.
Estrada said elements from Manila Police District (MPD), Traffic Enforcement Unit (TEU), and the Manila Traffic and Parking Bureau (MTPB) will be fielded around Manila especially among areas that would likely be affected by the transport strike such as España Boulevard, Recto, Sta. Cruz, Quiapo, and Divisoria.
Also, starting at 6 a.m. on Monday, 66 TEU personnel, backed by other City hall units, will be present at major thoroughfares to monitor the situation.
“We are always ready here. We have 6×6 trucks to ferry would-be stranded passengers in case this tigil-pasada pushes through,” said Chief Insp. Alejadro Pelias, MPD-TEU head.
Pelias said they will also be coordinating with the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), relating to possible scenarios that may arise due to the strike originally scheduled on Dec. 4 to 5.