With the Manila-Calamba portion of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) being closed and dismantled since last year, authorities have found a new use for the PNR tracks that now see almost no trains passing through.
According to the Philippine News Agency (PNA), the Calamba City Police Station has found the PNR tracks an ideal way to better respond to cases of crime, especially along areas where roads are too narrow for the conventional patrol vehicles.
Through small motor-powered handcars, popularly known among locals as "trolleys," members of the Calamba CPS can now access neighborhoods situated along the railroad tracks, specifically Barangay Parian all the way to Barangay Paciano Rizal.
By deploying railroad cars equipped with advanced surveillance and communication gadgets, law enforcement officers can now operate in communities whose streets are too narrow for police cars to pass, according to Calamba CPS chief P/Lt. Col. Milany Martirez.
“This strategic deployment aims to bolster efficiency and effectiveness in crime deterrence, leveraging available mobility resources to their fullest potential,” Martirez told media.
Martirez said the railroad vehicles are being used in conjunction with the city’s newly-launched Police Community Response and Monitoring (PCRM) Box network, which are small police detachments deployed all over the city.
A PCRM Box positioned in Barangay Parian’s Purok 6 also serves as vital hub for public access to police assistance during emergencies.
Equipped with state-of-the-art communication devices, drone technology, first aid provisions, and rescue tools, these facilities ensure swift and effective response to crime incidents and accidents, she added.
Small trolleys have been used as a means of public transport along PNR tracks not only in Metro Manila but also in rural areas in Laguna and Quezon.
While trolleys in Metro Manila tend to be lighter and human-powered – a necessity given that they have to be quickly removed from the tracks when a train passes through – trolleys in Laguna and Quezon tend to be larger and motor-powered.
This is not only due to the infrequent train service between Manila and Bicol but also due to the fact that in the absence of roads, many residents along the railroad line find these trolleys a vital means of transporting people and goods.
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