FREE RIDE. A Philippine Rabbit bus is deployed by the Angeles City government in Pampanga from March 6-7, 2023 to provide free rides to the public after operators of traditional jeepneys and minivans held strikes to protest the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. The city government will again be deploying five buses for free rides on July 24 in anticipation of the three-day nationwide transport strike planned by transport group Manibela. (PNA file photo)
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – The Angeles City government has readied contingency measures in anticipation of the transport strike next week.
Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said on Friday five buses will be on standby for city hall workers and the public just in case the three-day nationwide transport strike pushes through.
Lazatin said five Philippine Rabbit buses will be deployed in strategic areas in the city to ferry the riding public for free at the start of the transport strike on Monday, which coincides with the second State of the Nation Address of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.
The transport strike is set to be held on July 24 to 26 by transport group Manibela in protest of the government's public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).
Lazatin said Angeles City Traffic Development Office personnel will be fielded to monitor the traffic situation.
He also urged city hall employees to practice carpooling in anticipation of the nationwide strike.
Meanwhile, some 43 transport service cooperatives in Central Luzon have assured the public that they will not join the transport strike, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board Region 3 (LTFRB-3) said.
“Sa kabila ng mga banta at balak na malawakang transport strike, ang mga kooperatiba sa Gitnang Luzon ay nagpahayag ng kanilang tuloy-tuloy na serbisyo sa mga mananakay at buong suporta sa public utility vehicle modernization program (Amid the threats and plans of massive transport strike, the cooperatives in Central Luzon have manifested their continuing service to the riding public and full support of the public utility vehicle modernization program),” the LTFRB-3 statement read.
The transport service cooperatives from the provinces of Bataan, Tarlac, Bulacan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija and Pampanga said they are fully supportive of the PUVMP. (PNA)
