LOOK: Traffic woes due to Manibela’s strike; ‘blame DOTr,’ says Valbuena
Members of Manibela transport group hold a protest in Greenhills, San Juan City on March 26, 2025. (Photos from FAITH ARGOSINO / 黑料社)
MANILA, Philippines — Motorists affected by the slow traffic flow caused by transport groups’ protest along Edsa in Greenhills, San Juan City should blame the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and not the protesters.
This is the view of Mar Valbuena, president of Manibela, one of the groups that are holding the demonstrations.
The transport organizations staged a protest near Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon’s office in San Juan on Wednesday, marking the third and last day of their transport strike.
As of 10:55 a.m., Manibela members continue to occupy a lane along Edsa in Greenhills.
The protesters alleged that falsification of data was committed by the Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
“Sa ating mga motorista, sisihin nyo ang DOTr. Sila ang nagpapunta sa amin dito,” Valbuena said in an ambush interview amid the protest.
(To our motorists, blame the DOTr. They told us to come here.)
“‘Di naman kami kakasya dyan (referring to Dizon’s office). Sana nag isip muna sila,” he noted.
(We won’t fit in there. They should have thought about this first.)
“Humihingi tayo ng pang unawa sa ating kababayang motorista kung naabala namin kayo ngayon. Alam namin na kaisa namin kayo sa aming pinaglalaban,” he added.
(We are asking our motorists for understanding if we have cause them delays. We know you are one with us in our fight.)
Valbuena also revealed that Dizon texted him on Tuesday night, asking to talk with the transport leader.
“Sabi nya, kung ‘di bukas, Huwebes o Biyernes kasi daw pinatawag siya sa Malacañang. ‘Di ko alam bakit nag imbita kayo, tapos kayo ang wala,” the Manibela president said.
(He said either tomorrow (Wednesday), Thursday or Friday because he was called in Malacañang. I don’t know why you invited us, then you are the one who’s not here.)
In view of the transport strike, the Philippine National Police (PNP) deployed more than 48,000 personnel to various terminals and transportation hubs across the country.
PNP also dispatched over 1,400 vehicles to offer “Libreng Sakay” (free rides) to commuters affected by the protest.
