BCPO gears up for transport strike, rallies on SONA

By Glazyl Y. Masculino

BACOLOD City – The Bacolod City Police Office (BCPO) is ready to deploy more than 100 policemen in anticipation of possible protests and rallies here during the State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand “Bong Bong” Marcos Jr. on Monday, July 24.

Police Colonel Noel Aliño, BCPO director, said the Civil Disturbance Management (CDM) team of the BCPO, which placed first in the CDM competition held in Iloilo City last week, will be on standby for any untoward incident that may arise.

“We are 100 percent ready,” the BCPO top cop said.

Aliño said the city police force will exercise maximum tolerance and ensure the safety of the Bacolodnons.

Aside from rallies, the BCPO has also prepared for a possible transport strike.

Dubbed “TEAM BCPO LIBRE SAKAY: “Matam-is Lang Na Yuhum Ang Bayad,” Aliño said they will provide assistance to commuters that will be affected by the transport strike by dispatching its police mobile vehicles.

Free rides will be given to commuters in exchange for their smiles, as Bacolod is known as the “City of Smiles.”

The following routes are Police Station 1 – Banago-Downtown-Libertad, Police Station 2 – Eroreco-Downtown, Police Station 3 – Bata-Libertad and Mandalagan-Libertad, Police Station 4 – Estefania-Downtown and Villamonte-Downtown, and Police Station 5 – Granada-Burgos and Abada-Burgos.

Other routes are Police Station 6 – Taculing-Downtown and Dona Juliana-Downtown, Police Station 7 – Mansilingan-Downtown and Alijis-Downtown, Police Station 8 – Pahanocoy-Downtown and Tangub-Downtown, Police Station 9 – Sum-ag-Downtown and Cabug-Downtown, and Police Station 10 – Handumanan-Libertad and Felisa-Libertad.

Atty. Pacifico Maghari III, city administrator, said there’s no specific group that will be joining the strike, as most of the transport leaders told them that they will not participate in gratitude to the efforts of Mayor Alfredo “Albee” Benitez for helping them out with the issuance of the provisional authority with the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).