Nationwide strike failed to disrupt public transport – MMDA, LTFRB

HEAR US Public utility vehicle drivers use a jeepney as a platform to air their grievances against the government’s transportation agencies and officials during the strike led by the group Manibela on Monday. Their protest caravan stopped on East Avenue in Quezon City before proceeding to Manila. —LYN RILLON

The government on Monday further downplayed the nationwide transport strike after noting that it had a “very minimal” impact to public transportation all over the country, especially in the capital region.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos said he “assessed” the situation in Metro Manila, describing it as “generally normal” despite the strike staged by transport group Manibela.

Abalos later said the assessment was based on reports submitted by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and that the strike’s impact was “very minimal to none.”

“Everything is normal,” he said in a statement. “It’s as if there was no strike at all. There were no impacts, especially here in Metro Manila.”

Abalos attributed the “generally normal situation” to the commitment made by other transport groups to him after he met with them on Sunday.

No untoward incidents

The groups, who collectively call themselves the “Magnificent 7,” are the Pasang Masda, the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Piston, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organization, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Stop and Go and Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators ng Pilipinas.

This was the same observation of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), which said that the strike had not made any impacts to the transportation services nationwide (See related story on Regions, Page A8).

“Based on the nationwide monitoring of the transport strike/rally staged by Manibela, it did not, in any way, disrupt the public transportation service in the country,” the LTFRB said in a separate statement. “No significant stranded passengers were monitored.”

The Philippine National Police, for its part, said no “significant untoward incidents” have been reported, as far as shortage of public utility vehicles is concerned.

“But overall, the situation remains normal even as large capacity vehicles of government agencies were fielded in strategic locations to provide free rides to stranded commuters,” PNP chief Gen. Benjamin Acorda Jr. told reporters at a press conference in Camp Crame, Quezon City. INQ