Protest rally at Welcome Rotonda ends; DOTr says transport strike just created traffic

The protest rally against the government's PUV Modernization Program at Welcome Rotonda at the boundary of Quezon City and Manila ended Tuesday morning. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) however said the transport strike was successful only in creating traffic.

According to a Balitanghali report by Joseph Morong, members of the Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon or MANIBELA who gathered at the Welcome Rotonda dispersed at around 9 a.m.

The protest action affected traffic along parts of Welcome Rotonda, and led to the closure of the southbound lane of Quezon Avenue from Welcome Rotonda up to Blumentritt.

MANIBELA chairman Mar Valbuena said that his group and the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) will continue to operate their traditional jeepneys despite the “no extension” on the April 30 deadline for PUV consolidation, which is part of the PUV Modernization Program.

They added that it is only Congress who can cancel their franchises starting May 1.

"Nakita natin kung gaano kainit 'yung pakikipaglaban nitong ating mga kasamahan. Sana mahal na Pangulo, 'yung hinaing po nitong aming mga kasamahan mapakinggan ninyo at hindi 'yung mga iilan lamang," MANIBELA chairman Mar Valbuena said.

(We saw how passionate our members are in fighting for their cause. We hope, Mr. President, that you would listen to the appeal of our members, and not just listen to a few.)

He added that about 8,000 jeepney drivers and operators participated in the 5 p.m. vigil protesting the consolidation on Monday.

"Ito po 'yung napakaimportante, hindi 'yung tigil pasada talaga. Ito ay ang maiparating natin sa ating gobyerno, sa ating Pangulo 'yung ating mga hinaing, 'yung ating mga panawagan. 'Yun nga lamang, 'yung ating sulat na kahilingan sa ating Pangulo, ay hindi tayo nakarating nga lang ng Malacañang ngayon."

(This is the most important -- not the transport strike itself -- it is to convey to the government, to the President our grievances, our appeals. However, our letter addressed to the President was not given to him since we were not able to reach Malacañang.)

"Siguro kung ating Pangulo ay lalalambot ang kanyang puso sa ating mga kababayang naghihirap lalo na sa drivers at operators siguro ho matutuldukan ngayong araw na ito itong protesta," Valbuena added.

(If the heart of our president will soften toward our countrymen who are facing hardships, especially our drivers and operators, maybe these protest actions will end today.)

Meanwhile, DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista said that the strikes did not paralyze the transport situation.

“We think they were successful in creating traffic, but we were able to prove to them that the government was ready to address the transport issues,” said Bautista.

MANIBELA and PISTON started their two-day nationwide strike on Monday.

Started in 2017, the PUV Modernization Program aims to replace traditional jeepneys with vehicles that have at least a Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution and replace units that were not deemed roadworthy under the standards of the Land Transportation Office.

The consolidation of individual PUV franchises in cooperatives or corporations is the initial stage of the program. This aims to pass the burden of acquiring modernized units from operators to the transport entity.

Deadline for the PUV consolidation has been set for April 30. The government said traditional jeepney units whose franchises are not yet consolidated by May 1 will be considered colorum units. —KG, GMA Integrated News