Malacañang has urged transport groups to engage in dialogue and negotiate with the government rather than take their concerns to the streets, stressing that a transport strike is not the solution to the issues at hand.

Palace Press Officer and Communications Undersecretary Claire Castro said while they do not prevent the groups' right to protest, she advised them to negotiate with the government, noting that President Marcos is open for dialogues.

"Muli, ang nais ng gobyerno, ang nais ng pamahalaan ay pag-uusap, negosasyon, makita kung ano ang daing at kung mayroon man magkakaroon ng transport rally, hindi po kasi ito ang tugon, hindi ito ang sagot sa mga ganitong klaseng issue dahil mas mahihirapan lang din po ang ating mga commuters sa gagawin ganitong klaseng aksyon (Once again, what the government wants is dialogue and negotiation, to hear the concerns being raised. If there will be a transport rally, we do not believe that it is the appropriate response or solution to these kinds of issues because it will only make things more difficult for our commuters)," Castro said in a Palace briefing on Tuesday, Aug. 4.

"Kayo naman po ay nadidinig ng gobyerno, mas maganda na magkaroon ng matahimik, maayos na diyalogo, hindi yung lagi tayo nasa daan dahil hindi po siya ang sagot sa ating mga isyu sa ngayon (The government is listening to you. It would be better to have a peaceful and orderly dialogue rather than taking to the streets all the time, because that is not the answer to the issues we are facing at the moment)," Castro added.

"But, hindi po natin pinipigilan ang sinumang nais na magkaroon ng pagpoprotesta, but still hindi po siya makakatulong sa ating ekonomiya (We are not preventing anyone from exercising their right to protest. However, such actions will not help our economy)," the Palace official further said.

Manibela and other transport groups will stage a three-day transport strike from Aug. 10 to 12 to call on the government to grant a provisional fare hike amid high fuel prices.

Castro directly addressed Manibela, saying that whatever they want to raise, the government is ready to respond.

"Manibela, kung anuman po ang nais ng Manibela, handa naman po tumugon ang ating pamahalaan para hindi naman mahirapan ng ating mga commuters sa araw na ito ay kanilang gagawin (Manibela, Whatever Manibela wants to raise, the government is ready to respond so that our commuters will not be inconvenienced on the day of the strike)," Castro said.

On the fresh fare hike petition filed by several transport groups, the Palace spokesperson said the President hopes that the decision on the petition will not adversely affect the commuters.

"Ang sabi naman ng Pangulo, sana ay hindi makaapekto kung magkakaroon man ng pagtaas ng pamasahe o hindi magkakaroon ng taas ng pamasahe, ayaw po sanang makaapekto ito sa ating mga commuters, dahil alam po natin ang epekto ng krisis sa Middle East (The President said that, whether or not there will be a fare increase, he hopes it will not adversely affect our commuters. We all know the impact of the crisis in the Middle East)," she said.

Castro also said that the proposal will be discussed "later today."

The recommendation of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to provide a P20 Fuel subsidy to public utility vehicles (PUVs) will also be discussed during a meeting with Executive Secretary Ralph Recto.

"So, pag-uusapan po ng Office of the Executive Secretary, DOTr, and Economic Team para po mas magkaroon nang kongkreto at detalyeng resolusyon patungkol po diyan (So, the Office of the Executive Secretary, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), and the Economic Team will discuss the matter to come up with a more concrete and detailed resolution), Castro said.