CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga (PNA) – The transport strike on Monday, October 16, against the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program was hardly felt in Central Luzon.

Danilo Yumul, chairman of the Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator and Confederation of the Passenger Transport of Central Luzon, said transport operation in the region is normal and based on their monitoring, 99 percent of the transport associations as well as individual transport operators and drivers did not join the nationwide transport strike launched by Manibela.

A COASTER offering free rides to the public was deployed by the city government of Mabalacat in Pampanga amid the transport strike on Monday, October 16, 2023. Mabalacat City is one of the local government units in Central Luzon that deployed vehicles offering free rides to ensure the safety and convenience of the commuters. (Mabalacat City government FB)

“Ang group namin sa buong Central Luzon sa mga probinsya ng Bulacan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, at Pampanga ay 100 percent na hindi nakilahok sa transport strike at kakaunti lang ang naki-simpatiya (One hundred percent of our group in the entire Central Luzon in the provinces of Bulacan, Zambales, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, and Pampanga did not join the transport strike and only a handful of transport operators sympathized),” Yumul said in a radio interview.

He said their group decided not to join the protest action but is appealing to the government to extend the deadline for the jeepney phaseout under the PUV modernization program which is set by the end of this year.

“We respect the decision of our fellow drivers and operators na sa akala nila ay makukuha sa kalsada ang sagot sa kanilang hinaing tungkol sa phaseout. Kami sa hanay namin ay napagkasunduan na idaan sa dialogue at sulat ang aming apela na palawigin ang deadline ng jeepney phase out dahil malaking gastos po ang PUV modernization (they believe that the answer to their appeal regarding the phase out can be resolved on the streets. We, in our group, decided to course through dialogues and letters our appeal to extend the deadline of the jeepney phase because the PUV modernization is costly),” he added.

Yumul said the local government units (LGUs) in the region have prepared contingency measures in anticipation of the transport strike.

“Nag-ready po ang mga local chief executives natin. Nag-field sila ng free shuttle bus at nag-cancel po sila ng face-to-face classes, both public and private at all levels. Kaya walang masyadong impact ang transport strike (Our local chief executives have prepared. They fielded free shuttle buses and the face-to-face classes, both in public and private schools at all levels, were canceled. Thus, the transport strike had no major impact),” he added.

In Angeles City, the local government deployed buses offering free rides to residents as early as 5 a.m. until midnight.

The free rides cover five routes – Cutud-Sapang Maisac boundary, Balibago-Dau boundary, Cutcut-Porac boundary, Santo Domingo-San Fernando boundary, and Mining-Malino boundary.

City Mayor Carmelo Lazatin Jr. said this is to ensure that transportation services will be available for the public, whose safety and convenience are their priority.

The Clark Development Corp. also provided free shuttle service by deploying 12 units of buses with routes from the cities of San Fernando and Angeles, Capas and Concepcion in Tarlac, and the main gate and Mabalacat gate going in and out of the Clark Freeport.

In Mabalacat City, the city government deployed two coasters, two rescue vehicles, and one bus to cater to the transportation needs of commuters.

Gov. Dennis Pineda has issued an order suspending face-to-face classes in Pampanga from October 16 to 17.

He encouraged public and private schools to conduct online, modular learning classes, and alternative learning delivery modalities for the continuous learning of students.