APRIL 15, 2024 Free transportation service by the Quezon City LGU along Elliptical Road as a modern jeepney drops off some passengers. Members of transport groups Piston and Manibela held a transport strike ahead of the deadline for individual jeepneys to consolidate by April 30, 2024. (INQUIRER file photo dated April 15, 2024 / LYN RILLON)
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� Transport group Manibela began its transport strike on Friday (March 21), earlier than the announced schedule.
The group on Wednesday previously announced that it would hold a strike from March 24 (Monday) to March 26 (Wednesday).
These moves are in protest of the alleged falsification of the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on data of the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
鈥淪inimulan natin ang strike ngayong araw dahil sa pabago-bagong anunsyo ng schedule ng dayalogo mula pa no鈥檔g Martes,鈥� Manibela president and senatorial candidate Mar Valbuena told reporters in an interview during a protest.
(We began the strike today because of changing schedules of dialogue since Tuesday.)
鈥淪abi sa atin ng executive assistant ni Asec. Jojo Reyes, noong Martes at kinabukasan鈥� at available daw sila,鈥� he recalled.
(The executive assistant of Asec. Jojo Reyes said that they were available on Tuesday and the day after that.)
But Valbuena said, despite these schedules, officials of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the LTFRB failed to meet them for a dialogue.
As a result, the transport group leader said they will continue the nationwide strike on Monday.
READ: Manibela announces 3-day transport strike
鈥淗alos lahat ng pumasok sa consolidation at pumasok sa kooperatiba, naloko lamang. Na-deny at naperahan lang,鈥� Valbuena reported.
(Almost everyone who joined the consolidation and cooperatives were fooled, denied and scammed.)
鈥淪ila ay kasama namin ngayon,鈥� he stressed.
(They are with us today.)
In December, the LTFRB announced that 86 percent of all public utility vehicles (PUVs) in the country joined the program.
It added that 164,137 consolidated units out of 191,730 PUVs became part of transport cooperatives or corporations.
READ: LTFRB consolidates 164,137 PUV franchises
Under the PTMP, jeepney drivers and operators must group themselves together to form cooperatives to avail the program鈥檚 benefits.
Consolidation is part of the process of phasing out traditional jeepneys and replacing them with eco-friendly but more expensive units.
The DOTr on Wednesday said it was hoping to conduct a dialogue with Manibela and other transport groups 鈥渋nstead of a transport strike.鈥�
The department said this forum was meant to keep commuters safe and comfortable, and to ensure the well-being of the drivers and operators.