3-day transport strike set, IATF-MT bares contingency plan

Transport groups will hold a three-day strike on July 24, the President’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA). 

On that note, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) revealed that the Inter-Agency Task Force Monitoring Team (IATF-MT) already created a contingency plan in line with the upcoming protest.

Per MMDA, an inter-agency meeting was staged in its head office in Pasig City. There, Presidential Senior Deputy Executive Secretary Hubert Guevarra, MMDA Acting Chairman Don Artes, and MMDA General Manager Undersecretary Procopio Lipana presided over the discussion of plans to ensure that the commuting public will not be inconvenienced by the aforementioned transport strike and provide traffic as well as security management since it will coincide with the SONA.

“We request the LGUs (local government units) to cooperate with the single dispatching system of the rescue assets at the MMDA Command Center on the day itself. During the last transport strike, we were able to monitor through the CCTV (closed circuit television) cameras the convergence of rallyists, and can easily call the PNP (Philippine National Police) to maintain peace and order,” said Guevarra as he lauded the efforts of the inter-agency members.

Meanwhile, Artes said the team is also more than prepared because of the best practices and lessons learned from the previous transport strike held in March.

“We were able to address the needs of the riding public before because of the united efforts of the government with agencies and 17 Metro Manila local government units,” said the acting MMDA Chair.

Lipana, on the other hand, commented that a central dispatch of rescue units shall be observed in getting the stranded passengers so that other transport groups and drivers who will not join the transport strike can continue their usual services and gain income.

“Inter-agencies are prepared to take necessary measures on the affected routes; monitoring and coordination with the LGUs are necessary. Each national and local agency is ready to provide rescue units or vehicles to assist the riding public in case possible passengers build-up,” Lipana noted.

An inventory of assets was also prepared, which will be the basis for decision-making for the quick dispatching of rescue vehicles in coordination with the situation on the ground. The MMDA is ready to dispatch rescue vehicles when needed.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Regional Franchising and Regulatory Office for the National Capital Region Director Zona Russet Tamayo will also be in coordination with the transport groups that will not join the strike, according to MMDA.

Additionally, MMDA said that the PNP-National Capital Region Police Office will deploy the PNP Reaction Team, which will be prepositioned in strategic areas to respond where there are incidents of harassment. 

Photos from MMDA Facebook page

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