Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, July 24) — Transport group Manibela announced on Monday that it is temporarily suspending its three-day transport strike amid the threat of heavy rains brought by Typhoon Egay.
Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena said the group is heeding commuters’ call for transportation amid heavy rain.
“Temporarily suspended po ang tigil pasada dahil ang malakas na ulan tapos wala silang masakyan,” Valbuena said in a Facebook live.
[Translation: The transport strike is temporarily suspended due to heavy rains and they don’t have rides.]
Manibela staged the strike to protest the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program and its alleged failure to address the sector’s needs.
The transport group announced last week its plan to stage a three-day nationwide strike beginning July 24, coinciding with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA).
READ: TIMELINE: The government’s PUV phaseout program
In a separate Facebook post, Manibela warned the administration that the strike will continue if it still fails to address issues faced by the sector.
Valbuena also pointed out how the president stayed mum on transportation issues in his State of the Nation Address (SONA).
“Galit ang pangulo sa DOTr (Department of Transportation). Kaya hindi binanggit ang DOTR,” Valbuena said, citing an alleged source from the Palace.
“Ang dami daming attached agencies ng DOTR, ni-isa walang binanggit. Walang pinagmamalaki ang pangulo,” he added.
[Translation: The president is angry at DOTr. It’s why he didn’t mention the DOTr…It has so many attached agencies but none were mentioned. None were boasted of.]
