NORMAL OPS. Jeepneys ply the stretch of EDSA-Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City on Monday (Oct. 16, 2023). The transport strike initiated by Manibela failed to paralyze public transport operations in Metro Manila, according to the MMDA. (PNA photo by Avito C. Dalan)
MANILA – The transport strike on Monday failed to paralyze public transportation operations in the National Capital Region, an official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.
MMDA chair Don Artes said there was passenger buildup in several areas, which he described as usual Monday morning foot traffic.
“Based on our monitoring as of 11 a.m., there was no major disruption of public transportation in Metro Manila. Kung ang purpose ng strike ay i-paralyze ang public transportation, nabigo po sila (If the purpose of the transport strike was to paralyze public transportation, they failed),” Artes said in a press briefing at the MMDA office in Pasig City.
Transport group Manibela, headed by Mar Valbuena, has called for a transport strike to oppose the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board's Dec. 31 deadline for the consolidation of traditional jeepneys as part of the public utility vehicle modernization program.
“Ang atin pong pamahalaan ay hindi puwedeng i-hostage ng banta ng economic sabotage at inconvenience ng commuting public lalong-lalo na kung ang dine-demand mo ay mali. Tandaan po natin, ang jeepney modernization ay inuutos ng batas. In fact, more than 70 percent na ang compliant diyan (Our government cannot be held hostage by the threat of economic sabotage and inconvenience to the commuting public, especially when the demands are wrong. Remember that our jeepney modernization is mandated by the law. More than 70 percent are compliant to this law)."
Ahead of the transport strike, the MMDA has set up a multi-agency command center to monitor the developments. Augmentation vehicles were also prepositioned in strategic areas.
Some local government units and government offices also offered free rides to affected commuters.
Earlier, transport operators belonging to the “Magnificent 7” group made a commitment to MMDA officials that they would not be joining the transport strike initiated by Manibela.
They are Pasang Masda, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Altodap), Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston), Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO), Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap), Stop and Go Transport Coalition, and Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP).
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) echoed the MMDA's statement saying the first day of the transport strike staged by transport group of Manibela had no significant impact nationwide.
In a statement, the LTFRB said there were no significant number of stranded passengers due to the “implementation of contingency measures” by the government such as the free ride vehicles deployed by MMDA and local government units.
“Based on the nationwide monitoring of the transport strike or rally staged by Manibela, it did not, in any way, disrupt the public transportation service in the country,” it said. (Raymond Carl dela Cruz/PNA)
