By Ronron
March 11, 2008
Police and military units in Metro Manila noted a "generally peaceful" conduct of Tuesday's transport strike by various groups that protested the different traffic ticketing policies of local government units, among others.
Philippine National Police (PNP) spokesman Sr. Supt. Nicanor Bartolome said there were no reported untoward incidents like violent coercions by strikers of their fellow drivers and operators who opted to ply their daily routes.
The strike ended before noon yesterday after Malacañang issued Executive Order 172 that ordered the implementation of a single traffic ticketing policy in Metro Manila for erring public transport drivers.
The transport holiday began 12 midnight of Monday, although Bartolome said the worst time it was felt by commuters was between 9 and 10 am yesterday. Bartolome said among the badly affected areas are Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, Quiapo District in Manila City and some areas in Pasay City.
Bartolome said traffic normalized at 10:45 am yesterday.
"It's generally peaceful. The strikers were able to make their point, while the government fulfilled its mandate and obligation to ease the burden of the people," Armed Forces National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) chief Maj. Gen. Fernando Mesa said in a phone interview.
At 4pm, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) downgraded its alert level from full to normal status as traffic normalized, said its chief, Director Geary Barias.
Mesa said the NCRCOM followed the same move at 6pm, but only at heightened level.
Both units went on full alert at 6pm Monday in anticipation of the strike.
But PNP chief Gen. Avelino Razon, Jr. said all policemen were ordered to remain on the streets for as long as there are stranded passengers.
The PNP and NCRCOM have deployed 33 and 68 vehicles, respectively, to ferry stranded passengers yesterdays, the officials said./DMS
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