Though no transport group in EV joined the strike
TACLOBAN CITY – While Eastern Visayas was spared of a supposed nationwide strike from various drivers’ associations, the police in the region still deployed several of its vehicles on Monday (March 6) to ferry passengers.
The ‘Libreng Sakay,’ started at 6 am until 6 pm, is their way to ‘anticipate’ any passengers that may be affected by the strike, B/Gen. Rommel Francisco Marbil, the police regional director, said.
“We will continuously monitor for any possible changes and disturbances as well as provide assistance to the public,” he said in a statement released by the regional police information office.
Furthermore, a deployment of civil disturbance management (CDM) was also activated of any disruptive gatherings and protests.
The week-long protests were planned by various transport groups to oppose the government’s initiative for transport modernization.
The jeepney modernization program aims to gradually replace dilapidated jeepneys with more high-capacity and environment-friendly vehicles.
Based on the initial assessment and coordination by the different police provincial offices, none of the local transport groups in the region have joined the transport strike.
(LIZBETH ANN A ABELLA)
