Gov't to deploy vehicles for transport strike on March 24-26, 2025

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said Sunday it will deploy vehicles for the three-day transport strike from March 24 to 26, 2025.

In a statement, DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon said there would be additional buses on the EDSA busway and trains in MRT3, LRT1 and LRT2.

He added that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will also provide free bus rides in affected areas.

Dizon urged transport groups to engage in dialogue instead of conducting a protest action.

“Panawagan natin na sana para sa ating mga kababayan na hirap na hirap na sa pang-araw-araw na pagko-commute, sana huwag ng mag-strike. Instead, sana mag-usap na lang muna para maintindihan ng bagong liderato sa DOTr ang mga hinaing nila,” Dizon said in a statement.

(We appeal to transport groups to cease their planned transport strike for the sake of our commuters, who are having difficulty with their daily commute. Instead, let us dialogue so that the new leadership of DOTr could understand their grievances.)

Earlier this week, transport group MANIBELA announced the planned three-day transport strike.

MANIBELA chairperson Mar Valbuena said the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) lied when it said that 86% of public utility vehicle operators and drivers have consolidated for the PUV modernization program.

Valbuena also called on Dizon to remove LTFRB officials from their posts.

In response, DOTr has sought to talk with representatives from the concerned transport groups.

Transport group Pasang Masda however announced on Saturday that they would not participate in the transport strike organized by Manibela, scheduled for March 24 to 26, 2025.

Pasang Masda national president Obet Martin said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB that a transport strike was not a viable solution.

A policy that must be followed

As much as the agency and DOTr wanted to settle the issue in the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program, LTFRB spokesperson Ariel Inton said there is a policy that needs to be followed. 

“Kung ano man po yung problema, mapag-uusapan po yan pero may isang bagay lang na dapat matanggap nitong mga kilos protesta na may polisiya ng modernization, may polisiya na kelangan mag consolidate muna,” Inton told Super Radyo dzBB.

“As long as that is the policy, kelangan sundin kasi marami na ang sumunod, maraming nag consolidate maraming nag change ng unit. Unfair naman sa kanila na sumunod sila then magbabago tayo ng policy just because of that,” he added.

(We can discuss whatever the problem is but there is only one thing that participants of the protest should accept: There is a policy of modernization, that consolidation is needed first. As long as that is the policy, we need to follow it since many have already obeyed and changed their unit. It is unfair for them if we change our policy just because of that.)

However, Inton said the LTFRB will make necessary improvements and amendments if there are any in the PUV Modernization Program. —Mariel Celine Serquiña/KG/RF, GMA Integrated News