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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Artes: Gov't ready even for a year of transport strikes

Artes: Gov't ready even for a year of transport strikes

Published Dec 19, 2023 07:20 am

Who’s scared of the transport strikes?

Certainly not Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Don Artes as he declared that the national government was ready to assist commuters even if transport strikes are held for a year.

“We already reached a point that the government can no longer be held hostage by any group threatening to hold transport strike at the expense of the commuters just to get what they want,” said Artes.

“The MMDA is ready, the government is ready, If they want, they could do that (transport strike) for one year,” he stressed.

Over the weekend, Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) announced that it would extend its transport strike for two more weeks after initially holding it on Dec. 14 and 15.

Piston was joined by another transport group, Manibela, which was also asking for a lifting of the Dec. 31-deadline for jeepney drivers and operators to consolidate into either a corporation or a cooperative as part of the initial step towards the modernization of public transportation fleet under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Should any traditional jeepney driver or operator fail to comply, it would mean the revocation of their franchises, and would also mean that they would no longer be allowed to register their vehicles with the Land Transportation Office (LTO).

The national government, through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), has been yielding to the requests of the transport groups, including extending the franchise of traditional jeepneys for five more years, but remains firm on not extending the Dec. 31 deadline for consolidation.

Manibela President Mar Valbuena earlier said that their transport strike was not meant to paralyze public transportation, but was just meant to air the grievances of ordinary drivers and operators who stand to lose their livelihood if they agree to the terms of the PUVMP.

Artes, for his part, said they have already prepared the necessary contingencies to cushion the impact of the transport strike, including the more than 600 vehicles that have been prepositioned and on standby in strategic areas in Metro Manila.

And of the more than 600 vehicles, only a few have been utilized in at least two transport strikes since November this year.

In fact, Artes said they were not even deploying the vehicles in consideration of other jeepney drivers who would not join Piston and Manibela.

Philippine National Police (PNP) Spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo, for her part, said the PNP has been monitoring the transport strike to ensure peace and order. 

Related Tags

MMDA Transport strike
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