MANIBELA holds jeepney strike ahead of scheduled 3-day protest action

Transport group MANIBELA conducted Friday morning a jeepney strike in different parts of Metro Manila, days ahead of their announced protest action supposed to start on Monday, March 24.

In a report, Super Radyo dzBB’s Allan Gatus said members of MANIBELA gathered in one part of Monumento Circle, Caloocan City. The group said the Friday transport strike was just a peak of their planned action.

Police and local traffic officers and members of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority were in the area to help manage the flow of traffic.

In an interview with reporters, Mar Valbuena said they proceeded with their rally because of the different statements on the schedule of dialogue with transport officials.

“Sinimulan natin ang strike ngayong araw dahil sa pabago-bagong announcement ng schedule ng dayalogo. Noong Martes sinabi ng executive assistant na available daw sila, sabi naming available din kami. Sinabi nilang hindi available si (Transportation) Sec Vince Dizon. Sinabi nila na sa March 26 pa e alam nilang may nakakasang transport strike,” he said.

MANIBELA announced on Wednesday that they will hold a three-day transport strike from March 24 to 26. Later in the day, the Department of Transportation said it is seeking to sit down with representatives from the concerned transport group for a dialogue

Valbuena added they will proceed with their scheduled transport strike on Monday.

“Pag garahe pa lang ng Linggo, hindi na kami babyahe ng Lunes ng umaga, dire-diretso na po ito,” he said.

The group is calling for the resignation of Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board officials whom they claimed lied when they said that 86% of public utility vehicle operators and drivers have consolidated for the PUV modernization program.

Super Radyo dzBB's Mark Makalalad said the drivers in Pasig City told him that their leader informed them about the transport strike last night.

#BantayBiyahe: Grupong MANIBELA, nagsasagawa ng transport strike sa Pasig City. | via @MMakalalad pic.twitter.com/aQ59w5eA6p

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) March 21, 2025

In a separate report, Super Radyo dzBB’s Christian Maño said the drivers plying the Paco-Nagtahan route expressed readiness to join the transport strike later in the day.

#BantayBiyahe: Mga jeep sa Nagtahan, Maynila, tuloy ang biyahe sa gitna ng tigil-pasada ng grupong MANIBELA. | via @xtian_mano pic.twitter.com/NMCz8f31TN

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) March 21, 2025

In Zapote Junction, Las Pinas, Sam Nielsen of Super Radyo dzBB said the protest action of drivers in the area were orderly.

#BantayBiyahe: Mga miyembro ng grupong MANIBELA, nagsasagawa ng kilos-protesta sa Zapote Junction sa Las Piñas City. | via @dzbbsamnielsen pic.twitter.com/fNcbTsxWOI

— DZBB Super Radyo (@dzbb) March 21, 2025

—AOL, GMA Integrated News