Palace: PUV operations in Metro Manila ‘normal’ amid transport strike

MANILA, Philippines — The operation of public utility vehicles (PUVs) in Metro Manila has normalized despite the presence of protesters in parts of the metropolis, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

Citing the report of the Inter-Agency Task Force on Tigil Pasada, the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) said routes where free rides were made available on Monday, the start of the transport trike, are now under normal operation.

“Routes provided with Libreng Sakay by the task force on Monday, March 6, are now under normal operation, and there were no reports of stranded passengers,” the PCO said.

The PCO added that according to the task force’s assessment, protesters were monitored at the Heritage in Baclaran, Old Terminal in Alabang, Monumento in Caloocan City, and Catmon/St. Francis St. in Malabon.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Romando Artes earlier said the government was able to serve a total of 4,794 passengers from the 130 vehicles mobilized on Monday.

There were also no reported incidents requiring emergency preparedness and asset deployment.

“Before Monday’s transport group strike, the government crafted contingencies to minimize the impact of the disturbance to the commuting public,” the PCO said.

Transport groups are staging a weeklong strike in Metro Manila to protest the jeepney phaseout in the government’s PUV modernization program.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. earlier said the government’s modernization program is necessary but its implementation needs more discussions among its stakeholders, particularly jeepney drivers’ groups.

READ: Strike fails to paralyze public transport – MMDA

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