MANILA, Philippines — To protest the impending jeepney phaseout under the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program, drivers and operators left their PUVs in their garages and instead took up banners to stage a weeklong transport strike starting on Monday, March 6.
Some drivers and operators held a protest in Monumento, Caloocan City, to call for the scrapping of the PUV modernization program, according to the Bayan Muna partylist.
Meanwhile, in photos from the Collegian, the University of the Philippines’ official student publication, different sectors were seen gathered at University Avenue in Quezon City in solidarity with the transport strike.
For the government’s part, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it is continuously monitoring the situation in its command center, and the agency has also prepositioned some of its vehicles to help commuters if needed.
“Ayon kay Chairman (Romando) Artes, maaga pa lamang ay naka-preposition at standby na ang mga sasakyan na magsasakay mga pasahero na maaapektuhan ng transport strike. Idedeploy lamang ang mga sasakyan kung kinakailangan dahil marami ring bumibiyahe,” the agency said in a Face book post.
(According to Chairman Artes, the MMDA has prepositioned some vehicles to help transport commuters who will be affected by the strike. The vehicles will only be deployed if there will be a shortage of public transportation.)
The MMDA earlier suspended the number coding scheme in response to the transport strike.
READ: MMDA lifts number coding scheme for Monday
Some local government units like Manila, Valenzuela, San Juan, and Pasay are offering free rides for their constituencies who may be affected by the strike.
According to the Manila Public Information Office, the city government has deployed over 300 vehicles including e-trikes, pick-ups, buses, and trucks that will help transport commuters free of charge from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m., and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. starting Monday.
The city government of Valenzuela, meanwhile, said they have vehicles on standby to help transport commuters if needed.
For its part, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said operations of the Edsa busway remain “normal,” adding that there are enough buses deployed amid the transport strike.
The PCO also said that jeepneys in Pasig, Mandaluyong, Marikina, and San Juan continue to have normal operations.
It added that the Philippine National Police has also deployed vehicles that will offer free rides for commuters.