Commuters were stranded in different parts of Metro Manila as transport group Manibela launched its three-day transport strike on Monday, August 12.

Commuters are seen waiting for jeepneys along Caruncho Avenue in Pasig City on Monday, August 12. (Photo by Patrick Garcia)

One commuter, an office worker named Francis, could not hide his dismay as he waited for a jeepney along Caruncho Avenue in Pasig City.

"Kanina pa po kami nakapila dito pero wala pa ding jeep. Kung may dumaan man, puno naman. Gusto ko na nga sumabit sa likod kaso punuan na din (We have been waiting in line here for quite some time to catch a jeepney but there's none. There are some jeepneys who passed by but they're all full. I'm planning to get on the back of the jeepney but there are already people on it)," Francis said. He added that he was already late for work for almost 30 minutes.

Another passenger, Mike, said he opted to book a motorcycle taxi through a ride-hailing app as he had been waiting for a jeepney ride for more than an hour already.

"Joyride's fare is much higher than a jeepney but I have no other choice because I'm already late for my first day of school. I've been waiting here for more than an hour already but there are not enough jeepneys going to Quiapo," he said in a mix of English and Filipino.

Commuters are seen waiting for jeepneys along Caruncho Avenue in Pasig City on Monday, August 12. (Photo by Patrick Garcia)

In a press conference last week, Manibela head Mar Valbuena announced the group's three-day transport strike condoning President Marcos Jr.'s rejection of the Senate resolution asking for the suspension of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Signed by 22 out of 23 senators, Senate Resolution 1096 urged the national government to put a temporary halt on the implementation of the program due to the still high number of unconsolidated PUV units, phaseout of the iconic jeepney design, and low percentage of approved routes among others.

Despite this, the President stressed his support for the PUVMP.

"I disagree with them because sinasabi nila minadali. This has been postponed seven times, the modernization has been postponed for seven times and those that have been objecting or have been crying out and asking for suspension are in the minority (I disagree with them because they are saying it was rushed. This has been postponed seven times, the modernization has been postponed for seven times and those that have been objecting or have been crying out and asking for suspension are in the minority)," Marcos said.

"Eighty percent have already consolidated so papaano naman if yung 20 percent ang magde-decide 'yung buhay ng 100 percent? So pakinggan natin ang majority at ang majority sinasabi ituloy natin (Eighty percent have already consolidated and yet the 20 percent will decide for the livelihood of the 100 percent? Let's listen to those from the majority and in this case, the majority wants to push through with the program)," he added.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) initially said that those who did not consolidate after the April 30 deadline would be tagged as "colorum" or a PUV operating without a franchise. However, it has allowed unconsolidated PUVs to still operate in routes with low number of consolidations.

Based on the data of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), around 81.11 percent or 155,513 of 191,730 PUV units have been consolidated as of May. A total of 36,217 PUVs remained unconsolidated.

For routes, 74.32 percent or 7,077 of 9,522 have been consolidated while 2,445 routes remained unconsolidated.