MMDA, LTFRB: Nationwide transport strike had ‘minimal effect’

The nationwide transport strike of MANIBELA had a very minimal effect, according to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday.

“So far, sa amin pong monitoring ay very minimal po ‘yung sinasabing strike (Based on our monitoring, the effect was very minimal),” MMDA acting chairman Romando Artes told Super Radyo dzBB.

Artes said they observed a “small build-up” of passengers in four areas, particularly in San Juan, Novaliches, and Commonwealth.

“Hindi nga po namin alam kung normal na Monday na pasahero lamang ‘yun dahil ‘yung isa, like sa San Juan, about 40 to 50 passengers. Hindi pa nga nakapuno po ng isang bus,” he said.

(We don’t know if this was a normal volume of passengers for a Monday because for example, in San Juan, there were about 40 to 50 passengers. They didn’t even fill up one bus.)

“Kung ang purpose po ng strike ay i-paralyze yung public transportation, well, nabigo po sila. Pero kung ang purpose nila ay mapansin, siguro po nagtagumpay sila,” Artes said in a report on "24 Oras."

(If the purpose of the strike is to paralyze public transportation, well, they failed. But if their purpose is to be noticed, maybe they succeeded.)

Meanwhile, Davao City, General Santos City, Puerto Princesa City, and Palawan province were not affected by the transport strike.

According to separate Super Radyo dzBB reports, the jeeney drivers in the said areas decided not to participate in the protest action.

In a statement, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said the transport strike "did not in any way disrupt the public transportation service in the country."

In a report submitted to Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, the LTFRB said only a handful of protesters participated during the protest.

"No significant stranded passengers were monitored. The incident of harassment recorded in Region 3 was properly and promptly acted upon by the local police in the area," it added.

It further said there was an efficient implementation of the contingency measures by the national government through the Inter-Agency Task Force on Tigil Pasada.

The LTFRB said the strike was generally peaceful.

MANIBELA protested the government's plan to phase out traditional jeepneys and the alleged corruption in the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board. It said the strike will be its biggest.

In an interview with reporters during their rally in Mendiola, Manila, MANIBELA president Mar Valbuena said most of their members, with approximately 200,000 jeepney units, participated in the protest action.

He expressed belief that they were able to paralyze the transportation in Metro Manila.

Valbuena apologized to the commuters affected by the transport strike.

He said they will meet with their leaders to discuss their next move. He added that if there will be a second round of protest action, it will be a surprise.

For Artes, MANIBELA seemingly only wanted attention.

“Actually, 'pag titignan po natin parang nagpapansin lamang dahil parang wala naman pong nangyayari doon sa kanyang, so far, third na nga po ito na attempt. Puro kahol lamang po,” he said.

(We think that they only want attention because nothing is happening. This is their third attempt. They’re only barking.)

Meanwhile, according to Artes, they also received reports that some individuals wanted to supposedly block drivers who did not join the strike.

“May mga ilan-ilan lamang pong lugar kung saan meron pong strikers na nag rally. Pero ito naman po ay agad na pinuntahan ng ating mga kapulisan para po bantayan sila at ‘wag na rin pong maka-abala,” he said.

(There were some areas where strikers held a rally. But this was immediately visited by the police to monitor them.)

“Meron po kasing mga reports na may ilan na gustong harangin ‘yun pong hindi sumasama sa tigil pasada. So para po maiwasan ay kaagad naman pong pinupuntahan ng ating kapulisan,” he added.

(There were reports that some individuals wanted to block those who did not join the strike. So to avoid this, police officers immediately went there.)

He said the MMDA was also prepared to assist the public for the day.

“Just that hindi po natin dini-dispatch indiscriminately ‘yung atin pong nakahandang augmentation para hindi naman po maapektuhan ‘yung kita nung ating mga namamasada na hindi sumama doon sa strike,” he said.

(But we did not dispatch indiscriminately our prepared augmentation to not affect the earnings of those who did not join the strike.)

The different local government units also deployed free rides to assist commuters who will be affected by the transport strike.

Classes in some public and private schools were either suspended or shifted to online or modular learning to keep the teachers and students at home.—With Sherylin Untalan/AOL, GMA Integrated News