MANIBELA protest strands commuters in Metro Manila

Passengers in various parts of Metro Manila were stranded on Monday as public transport group MANIBELA protested against the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

“Paumanhin po sa ating mga mahal na mananakay. Under protest po ngayon ang MANIBELA. Nagsama-sama sa rally kaya po walang biyahe,” the transport group said on Facebook.

(We apologize to our dear commuters. MANIBELA is currently holding a protest. Our members are gathered at a rally, which is why there are no trips.)

In a series of posts, MANIBELA shared images of commuters waiting by roadsides for unavailable public utility vehicles (PUVs).

Meanwhile, MANIBELA members convened at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office in Quezon City. 

They opposed the LTFRB’s Memorandum Circular 2024-043, which extended the provisional authority for PUVs that complied with the program's consolidation requirement only until December 31, 2025.

The group also protested other issues, including rising fuel prices, reduced government funding for PhilHealth and increased Social Securit System (SSS) contributions.

MANIBELA also reported staging protests in several areas across the country, including:

• Luzon: Baguio, Pangasinan, La Union, Isabela, Cagayan Valley, Region 3, Calabarzon, Mindoro (Calapan), Naga, Legazpi, Marinduque, and Palawan (Puerto Princesa)
• Visayas: Bacolod, Iloilo, Cebu, Ormoc, Tacloban, and Samar (Catbalogan, Catarman, Borongan)
• Mindanao: Cagayan De Oro City, Iligan, Bukidnon, CARAGA Region, Zamboanga (Pagadian, Dipolog), and General Santos City

GMA News Online has reached out to LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III for a comment but has not received a response as of posting time.

Launched in 2017, the PUVMP—now renamed the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP)—aims to replace aging jeepneys with modern vehicles equipped with Euro 4-compliant engines to reduce pollution. 

The program also seeks to phase out units deemed unfit for road use.

A modern jeepney costs over P2 million, a price that state-run banks LandBank and the Development Bank of the Philippines have acknowledged as unaffordable for most PUV drivers and operators.

The initial stage of the program requires the consolidation of individual PUV franchises into cooperatives or corporations. 

By August 2024, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) had moved the program to the route rationalization stage. — DVM, GMA Integrated News