The National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) will deploy all its available vehicles to assist commuters who will be affected by a three-day transport strike as the consolidation of jeepney franchise ends April 30.

In a message to reporters on Sunday, chief information officer Lt. Col. Eunice Salas said all 90 vehicles of the NCRPO are ready for dispatch from Monday to Wednesday, especially during rush hours.

“We have 90 available vehicles that will be placed on standby to provide free rides to our kababayan (fellow citizens) who would be affected by the transport strike,” Salas said.

At the same time, NCRPO director Maj. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. said 7,957 cops will be out to ensure public safety.

“We are ready to ensure the safety of the public during the transport strike from April 29 to May 1. We also placed our men under full alert status as part of our contingency plan for the transport strike” Nartatez said in another statement.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier said the April 30 deadline for the franchise consolidation under the public utility vehicle modernization program would no longer be extended.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education (DepEd) announced the suspension of face-to-face (F2F) classes in all public schools nationwide due to the strike and the continuing high heat index.

“All public schools nationwide shall implement asynchronous classes/distance learning on April 29 and 30, 2024. Likewise, teaching and non-teaching personnel in all public schools shall not be required to report to their respective stations,” the DepEd advisory read.

Activities organized by regional and schools division offices, such as Regional Athletic Association Meets and other division or school level programs, scheduled on the aforementioned dates may push through, provided that measures for the safety of all participants have been carefully considered, the DepEd added.

Private schools are not covered by the advisory. (PNA)