Transport groups to hold strike on Sept. 23-24

Metro Manila, Philippines – Commuters should brace for another transport strike this week.

Transport groups MANIBELA and PISTON will stop jeepney operations nationwide on September 23 and 24 to protest the supposed jeepney phaseout due to the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

“Ang ating pagtindig laban sa programang modernisasyon ng gobyerno na hindi naman nagsisilbi sa interes at pangangailangan ng ating mga tsuper at operator ay siyang nagbubunga ng paunti-unti nating mga tagumpay,” PISTON National President Mody Floranda posted on Facebook.

[Translation: Our stand against the government’s modernization program, which does not serve the interests and needs of our drivers and operators, is gradually resulting in our success.]

“Ipakita at iparamdam na kung wala ang traditional jeepney mahihirapan talaga ang mga mananakay dahil sa kapalpakan ng programa ng [PUVMP] na punong puno ng kurapsyon!” MANIBELA said in a separate Facebook post.

[Translation: Show and let them feel that commuters will have a difficult time without traditional jeepneys because of the sloppy PUVMP program that is full of corruption!]

A transportation department-led inter-agency monitoring team will keep an eye on the strike activities.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) assured affected commuters that they will get free rides.

While LTFRB chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III said that they respect the freedom of expression, they urged protesters to avoid causing heavy traffic on major roads.

Guadiz said they are in coordination with other relevant agencies and local government units.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said its vehicles are on standby for deployment as needed.