Manila, Philippines – Up to 180,000 policemen are on standby for deployment to ensure peace and order as a major transport group takes to the streets tomorrow, March 19, to protest runaway pump prices, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said on Wednesday.
The police are also mobilizing land assets to provide free rides to commuters who would be stranded as PISTON threatened to paralyze mass transportation across the nation on Thursday.
“Para sa nationwide strike bukas, hindi lang ito about police visibility kungdi tunay na pagtulong sa mga kababayan natin na possible na ma-stranded sa pamamagitan ng pagdedeploy ng mobility assets ng PNP para sa libreng sakay,” PBGen Randulf Torres Tuano, PNP chief of public information office, told a press briefing at the Manila Hotel.
[TRANSLATION: For the nationwide strike tomorrow, this is not just about police visibility but assistance for our countrymen who would be stranded through the deployment of mobility assets of the PNP as free rides.]
The country saw its crime rate fall by 12.66 percent during the January to March 12 period, the PNP official said, but flagged the rising risks of theft and robbery as oil prices spiral out of control and drive up the cost of other major commodities.
“Bagamat maganda yung statistika natin na bumaba nationwide yung ating focus crimes ng 12.66 percent, ang sinasabi natin hindi na ito usapin ng perception lamang sapagkat tinatanggap ng Philippine National Police yung hamon na posibleng pagtaas ng crimes against property,” Tuano said.
[TRANSLATION: While the statistics are encouraging – focus crimes incidence fell by 12.66 percent – what we are trying to say is that this is not just a perception issue because the Philippine National Police is taking on the challenge of abating a possible rise in crimes against property.]
Part of the contingency measures to combat crime amid inflationary times are increased police visibility, the PNP said, adding that authorities are also beefing up intel operations to target syndicates, especially those behind profiteering.
“Kaya pinapaigting yung ating police interventions sapagkat naniniwala tayo kalimutan natin ang statistics. Ang importante diyan yung maramdaman ng taumbayan na nasa kalsada ang Philippine National Police para sa tinatawag nating police visibility… Sa operations side, yung intelligence-driven operations,” Tuano said.
[TRANSLATION: That is why we are fortifying our police interventions because this is not just about statistics. What is most important is for our people on the streets to feel the PNP police visibility… On the operations side, we continue our intelligence-driven operations.]
LESS CONGESTED EDSA
Meanwhile, the flipside of the disquieting oil inflation is less congestion on Manila’s busiest highway – EDSA.
Fewer cars and other vehicles have been plying the 23.8-kilometer avenue since last week when the four-day work week began, an official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Wednesday, March 18.
EDSA was designed to have a carrying capacity of 250,000 vehicles per day, but the average daily volume is twice that count.
“Since Monday nag-start na kami ng mga scientific processes para sa vehicle count at para ma-measure with definitiveness yung traffic travel time at saka traffic speeds,” MMDA General Manager Nicolas Torre III told reporters during the Kapihan sa Manila Hotel forum.
“Pero kung paguusapan yung anecdotal observation, nakita nyo at naramdaman natin na medyo lumuluwag ang kalsada may reduction in volume,” he said.
[TRANSLATION: Since Monday, we started the scientific processes for vehicle count and measure with definitiveness the travel time and traffic speeds.
But based on anecdotal observation, we can see and feel a reduction in volume.]
