A police truck offers free rides to passengers in Daraga town, Albay on Wednesday. Photo from PNP/Bicol
LEGAZPI CITY –– The Philippine National Police (PNP) in Bicol has launched “Libreng Sakay Alay ni Kasurog,” to caution the impact of lack of public transport facilities to ferry passengers amid the easing of quarantine restrictions here.
Brig. Gen. Anthony Alacañeses, director of the Bicol police, said they have deployed several police trucks to ply the Legazpi-Daraga routes, which started around 7 a.m. on Wednesday.
He said the free ride would assist commuters traveling to and from their workplaces.
“This initiative is only one of the many ways of PNP Bicol to lend a hand to our fellow Bicolanos, and to lessen the strain and anxiety many are feeling due to COVID-19 (coronavirus disease),” he said.
He said the initiative could be replicated in other areas across the region in coordination with local governments.
The public transport sector in Bicol was adamant to go back to their regular routes due to the strict protocol on social distancing, and the special permit that they have to secure from the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board before they could be allowed to ply their routes.