Transport group Manibela to hold own 3-day strike from Nov 22 to 24

DRIVERS’ CALL: A jeepney at the Baclaran district in Parañaque City has become a virtual protest wall as it displays streamers and banners voicing out the sentiments of drivers. (Photo from RICHARD A. REYES)

MANILA, Philippines — Transport group Manibela on Tuesday announced it will also hold a three-day transport strike from November 22 to 24 (Wednesday to Friday) against the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVM).

“Simula bukas ang Manibela at iba pa nating kasamahan ay kasama na magtitigil pasada nationwide bilang tugon sa ating hinaing na hindi po binibigyang pansin ng [Department of Transportation] at [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board],” said Manibela President Mar Valbuena.

(Starting tomorrow, Manibela and our other colleagues will stop operating nationwide in response to our complaints that the Department of Transportation] and [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board] are not paying attention to.)

According to Valbuena, around 150,000 units of PUVs are expected to join the protest.

Valbuena said Manibela is still open to dialogue with DOTr and LTFRB.

Various transport groups went on strike as the deadline for consolidating traditional public utility jeepneys under PUVM on December 31 nears.

The Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) is currently holding a three-day nationwide transport strike that started Monday (November 20) in protest of the deadline.