Guadiz: Piston, Manibela transport strike expected but we’re ready

LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz III. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chair Teofilo Guadiz III said they are prepared to deal with next week’s two-day transport strike.

Guadiz said the LTFRB and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will deploy personnel and vehicles to areas that may be affected by the Manibela and Piston protests.

He also said that based on their initial assessment, some areas in Muntinlupa City, Parañaque City, and Quezon City might have a shortage of public transportation during the strike.

READ: Groups to hold transport strikes over non-extension of franchise merging

The LTFRB head said what Manibela and Piston are doing is no longer unusual.

“We, along with MMDA, are ready for such things,” Guadiz said in Filipino during an interview with Radyo 630 on Friday.

On Thursday, the two transport organizations announced their plan to hold a two-day nationwide strike starting April 15 in protest of the looming deadline for consolidating franchises under the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program.

READ: Marcos: ‘No extension’ on April 30 deadline for PUV franchise consolidation

Guadiz said traffic personnel and police officers would be deployed during the two-day strike to maintain peace and order. According to him, protestors sometimes prevented non-participating PUVs from passing along routes.

“Kung minsan po nagtatapon ng spikes sa daan para po ‘yung mga goma ng mga ayaw sumama sa kanila ay mabutas,” he added.

(Sometimes, they throw spikes on the road so that the tires of those who refuse to join them will get punctured.)

Additionally, Guadiz said some LTFRB and Land Transportation Office personnel were tasked to record the plate numbers of PUVs taking part in the strike, as he pointed out that a driver or operator participating in such activity is prohibited by law and could lead to franchise suspension.

When asked about his view on Manibela and Piston’s ability to paralyze the transport system through their strike, Guadiz said he does not think the groups have such force.

“Hindi po ako naniniwalang may pwersa sila, kaya lang po may kakayahan silang maghasik ng gulo sa mga areas na magiging dahilan kaya ‘yung mga ayaw sumama sa kanila ay matakot po,” he said.

(I don’t believe they have power, but they can cause trouble in areas that could intimidate those who don’t want to join them.)

Manibela and Piston have conducted several transport strikes against the deadline of the franchise consolidation since last year.

However, on Wednesday, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the April 30 deadline would no longer be extended.