Group pushes through with nationwide transport strike

Transport group MANIBELA on Monday pushed through with its transport strike amid alleged corruption in the government.

A caravan will commence at University Avenue in UP Diliman and proceed to the office of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and Department of Transportation (DOTr) and then finally Malacañang, according to an Unang Balita report.

MANIBELA said Monday's strike will be its biggest.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, MANIBELA chairperson Mar Valbuena said their group has a 40,000 membership in the National Capital Region (NCR) alone.

"Sa ibang lugar po halos lahat ng kasamahan namin sa MANIBELA ay sumama po at marami rin na nasa kabilang grupo na nagpahayag po sa atin ng pagsuporta," he said.

(In other areas almost all of our members are joining the strike, and even those from other groups have expressed their support.)

The nationwide activity has prompted several local government units (LGUs) and learning establishments to either suspend classes or shift to online or modular learning on Monday.

To address the concerns of affected commuters, some LGUs and government offices offered free rides.

In a press conference on Sunday, Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos expressed confidence that the strike would not paralyze Metro Manila's transport.

Seven transport groups, collectively known as the "Magnificent 7," did not join the activity. They are the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston), the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap), Stop and Go Transport Coalition, Association of Concerned Transport Organizations (Acto), Pasang Masda, Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP), at ang Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Altodap).

"Kung lahat ng kumakahol na aso ay titigilan, hindi tayo makakausad (If we will stop at every barking dog, we will not be able to move forward)," Abalos had said.

The scheduled strike will take place in protest against the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board's (LTFRB) deadline for the consolidation of traditional jeepneys as part of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

Jeepney drivers and operators are required to join or form cooperatives under the PUV modernization program, which aims to replace traditional jeepneys with vehicles powered by more environment-friendly fuels until December 31, 2023.

Valbuena, in the Unang Balita interview, said they are not opposing the modernization program but only its implementation, noting that it opens door to corruption.

"Hindi po kami tumututol dito, wala kaming sinasabing tutol kami. Ang tinututulan namin ay ang implementasyon nito dahil 'yung implementasyon nito ay puro pangungurap lamang," he said.

(We are not opposed to the modernization program. We did not say that we are opposed to it. What we are opposing is its implementation because the implementation is only for corruption.) 

Valbuena also dismissed claims that their numbers is "bloated" and that their membership is only 5% of the overall transport sector.

"Hindi ko maintindihan kung bakit nag-suspend sila ng klase kung 5% lang kami at kung bakit nag-deploy din sila ng Libreng Sakay," he said.

(I can't understand why they have to suspend classes and deploy vehicles for free rides if we're only 5% as they say.)  —KBK, GMA Integrated News