NATIONAL Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) Director Major General Edgar Alan O. Okubo on Saturday expressed their full preparedness to deal with the planned week-long transport strike in Metro Manila by launching their own “Libreng Sakay” to ferry motorists in the metropolis.

According to the NCRPO chief, he has ordered all five NCRPO districts and their Regional Mobile Force Battalion (RMFB) to launch their “Libreng Sakay” program starting at 1 a.m. Monday onwards to help bring workers and students that may be stranded if the strike pushes thru despite the government’s effort to extend the transport modernization deadline by the end of the year.

Okubo on Friday ordered the directors of the Northern, Eastern, Manila, Southern, and Quezon City Police Districts and the NCRPO RMFB force commander to account for their men that would be deployed for safety and security purposes next week.

He also called for an inventory of their mobility and logistical assets in anticipation of the planned transport strike.

The official said that initially, they would deploy five Hino shuttle buses, a JAC mini-bus, two Isuzu trucks, and two Hino trucks during the planned strike to ferry affected commuters all over the metropolis.

“This initiative aims to accommodate the needs of the public who will be greatly affected by the said transport strike. If necessary, all vehicles for patrol operations will be utilized for ‘Libreng Sakay’ too,” said Okubo.

He also ordered the five NCRPO district directors to coordinate with their respective local government units (LGUs) to determine where the augmentation trucks, buses, and patrol vehicles must be deployed.

The official said a total of 4,356 NCRPO personnel will also be deployed in different areas of concern, particularly at passenger pick-up and drop-off points, to respond to any adverse situation that may transpire in case the transport strikers and their fellows who will not join them will start arguing with each other.

Of the policemen to be deployed, 700 are from different NCRPO Civil Disturbance Management or CDM contingents, 1,019 in major thoroughfares, 569 in transportation hubs/terminals, and 611 in other places of convergence.

Another 875 personnel of the NCRPO Reactionary Standby Support Force will be placed on standby, ready for deployment at any time should the situation calls for it, Okubo said.

The NCRPO chief said that their deployment will continue until the situation returns to normal.

“We want to ensure readiness to address all foreseeable circumstances and to immediately respond should our presence and assistance be necessary during the transport strike. Constant coordination with the LGUs and other government agencies will be made to identify other concerns that are needed to be addressed on the ground,” Okubo said.

“Naiintindihan ng inyong kapulisan sa NCRPO ang hirap na pinagdadaanan ng ating mga commuters dito sa Metro Manila. Lalo pa ngayon na may isasagawang transport strike, kung kaya’t ang buong pwersa ng kapulisan ng NCRPO ay handang magpaabot ng tulong sa paraang aming makakayanan upang mabawasan ang hirap ng ating mga kababayang maaapektuhan ng nasabing transport strike sa susunod na linggo,” he added.