By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga
The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) will be on heightened alert for possible protest activities in the city as President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. delivers his State of the Nation Address (SONA) today, and the start of the three-day nationwide strike by transport groups based in Metro Manila.
In a radio interview, BCPO director, Police Colonel Noel Aliño said public safety will be their priority.
“Team BCPO is 100 percent ready for the SONA,” Aliño said yesterday.
He hopes that no one among the groups that will be holding protest rallies in various parts of the city today will be involved in trouble.
“The civil disturbance management team is on standby and ready for any untoward incident. BCPO will exercise maximum tolerance and ensure the safety and security of Bacolodnons,” he said.
The city police director also advised leaders of the progressive groups that would be holding rallies to listen to Marcos’ SONA first, and not to resort to violence during the activities.
He added they had been preparing for the SONA four weeks ago.
Meanwhile, Aliño said 17 mobile patrol cars will be deployed around the city for commuters who might be affected by the strike.
These will be dispatched to specific locations covered by 10 police stations in the city.
A majority of local transport groups, including the Federation of Bacolod City Drivers Association and Sentrong Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Negros, said they will not join the strike.
City Administrator Pacifico Maghari III said there is “no specific group joining the strike” today.
“Transport leaders told us they will not participate in gratitude to the efforts of Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez for helping them out in the issuance of the provisional authority from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board,” Maghari said.
Around 1,300 traditional jeepneys have been granted provisional authority this year.
Transport groups in Metro Manila protest the consolidation phase of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program on December 31 of this year, as they are being deprived of routes under the new local public transport route plan./With reports from PNA / DGB, WDJ