Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Land transport regulators counter claims by a group of jeepney drivers and operators that Monday’s jeepney strike had stranded most commuters nationwide.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and transport group PISTON had different estimates on how much the riding public was affected by the jeepney groups’ daylong refusal to ply their routes.
PISTON President George San Mateo said 85 percent of their 80,000 to 100,000 members nationwide joined the protest.
However, LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada was skeptical about this — citing that the agency only had to deploy 160 government vehicles to help out commuters.
The LTFRB and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) had deployed vehicles to offer free rides to make up for the lack of jeepneys.
As of 6 p.m., the LTFRB reported it had assisted 7,390 passengers in Metro Manila, which was equivalent to 370 jeepney trips.
However, San Mateo said it was the suspension of classes in grade school, high school, and some universities that lessened the number of stranded passengers.
The strike was staged against the government’s jeepney modernization program, which the transport group believed was a phase-out of old jeepney units.
Aside from PISTON, members of transport groups Stop and Go Coalition, and No To Jeepney Phase-out Coalition also gathered at the Bonifacio Monument in Caloocan City.
San Mateo apologized to all the affected commuters, but threatened to organize regular monthly strikes if the government would not hear them out.
PISTON also held a similar nationwide strike last February 6.
