The Pampanga Police Provincial Office (PPO), under the direction of Colonel Eugene Marcelo, has launched a free ride initiative to assist residents impacted by a transport holiday organized by transport groups. This protest, held on Monday, targeted rising oil prices, the lifting of a suspended fare increase, and delays in government fuel subsidies.
Transport Holiday Disrupts Commutes in Pampanga
Members of the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations and the National Federation of Transport Cooperatives participated in a peaceful transport holiday, leading to an estimated 20,000 operators and drivers of modern and traditional jeepneys halting their routes. The groups emphasized that this action was not intended to punish the public, following recent strikes by organizations like Piston, Manibela, and Laban TNVS.
Police and Local Government Step In with Free Rides
To mitigate the disruption, the Pampanga Police Provincial Office deployed vehicles across strategic areas covered by police stations throughout the province. Colonel Eugene Marcelo stated, "As part of continuous service to the public, the Pampanga Police Provincial Office conducted free rides in every municipality in the province of Pampanga. The initiative aims to help citizens, especially those affected by the increase in oil prices in their daily travels."
In San Fernando, the local government unit collaborated by offering free rides until Monday night. Louie Clemente, head of the City Public Order and Safety Coordinating Office, explained that services began at around 6 am and would continue with pre-positioned vehicles by 4:30 pm. The city deployed vehicles on key routes, including:
- Magliman (Bacolor boundary) to SM City Pampanga (Mexico boundary)
- SM City Telabastagan (Angeles boundary) to San Nicolas (Sto. Tomas Boundary)
- City Hall to Dolores Intersection, and vice versa
Clemente added, "We have also mobilized and deployed extra vehicles to address the actual volume of commuters on the ground."
Angeles City Transport Group Opts Out of Protest
Meanwhile, in Angeles City, the transport group Pasada chose not to participate in the transport holiday. According to the Angeles City Information Office, Pasada president Augusto Bagtas confirmed that their group would continue serving routes such as Angeles-Dau Checkpoint, Angeles-Mabalacat, Angeles-Honorable, and Angeles-Porac.
As a result, the previously planned free ride initiative by the Angeles city government was canceled. However, the local government, through the Public Transportation Regulatory Office and the Angeles City Traffic Development Office, will continue monitoring passenger and traffic conditions to ensure public mobility.
