Iloilo city: The Iloilo City Police Office (ICPO) is appealing for a peaceful and orderly conduct of the Sept. 21 'Trillion Peso March.' ICPO spokesperson Maj. Shella Mae Sangrines announced that despite the lifting of the 'no permit, no rally' policy for this event, three groups have opted to secure permits for their participation in the rally scheduled for Sunday.

According to Philippines News Agency, Maj. Sangrines expressed approval of this decision, emphasizing that it enables the police to deploy the necessary personnel to maintain peace and order while ensuring the safety of the participants. She affirmed the readiness of the ICPO, noting that the deployed police force will uphold professionalism and neutrality, while respecting the rights of all individuals involved. The ICPO Civil Disturbance Management Unit (CDMU) is prepared for deployment if needed, and all station and unit commanders have been instructed to stay vigilant and ready to assist as required.

ICPO Director Col. Kim Legada urged the public, particularly the organizers and supporters, to cooperate with authorities in upholding peace and order. "Let your grievances be heard through a peaceful conduct of the assembly," Legada stated, encouraging a respectful interaction with law enforcement during the event.

In related developments, the Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperatives (WVATC) Inc., which consists of 50 transport cooperatives and associations, chose not to participate in the transport strike on Thursday. WVATC President Sherry Rose Songano explained in a media conference that they have confidence in the government's public transport modernization program, and view a transport strike as counterproductive and a violation of their franchise, asserting that it is not a viable solution to the current challenges.