LTFRB says Piston, Manibela have right to unite in protest action

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board spokesperson Cieline Pialago during the press conference on PUV modernization program at the LTFRB Central Office on Tuesday, November 21, 2023. INQUIRER.net file photo / NOY MORCOSO

MANILA, Philippines — Piston and Manibela have the right to join forces in the transport strike, according to the  Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

LTFRB Celine Pialago on Wednesday said that the government remained committed to have genuine dialogue regardless.

READ: LTFRB again plays down transport strike

“Iyong tanong po, kung sila po ba ay posibleng sumama sa Manibela sa kanilang mga kilos-protesta ay discretion po ng Piston iyon. Ang sa amin po, pinanghahawakan po ng LTFRB na sila po ay kinakausap at patuloy pong kinakausap ng ating chairman,” sad Pialago on the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon public briefing.

(The question, if it is possible for them to join Manibela in their protests, is the discretion of Piston. For our end, the LTFRB is committed to keep talking to them, and our chairman is continuously talking to them.)

READ: PNP deploys hundreds of vehicles for commuters amid transport strike

Pialago said that the transport groups’ consultants met with the LTFRB to discuss legal procedures of the strike.

Major jeepney groups Piston and Manibela are striking against the December 31 deadline of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.