Members of various transport and commuter groups gather on Mendiola Street in Manila on December 29, 2024, to protest the government’s implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. (File photo screengrabbed from a video uploaded by Piston on Facebook)
MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it has yet to monitor any public transport disruption following the strike initiated by transport groups on Monday.
In a press conference, MMDA said none of its 400 vehicles on standby have yet to be deployed.
“So far, as of this morning, there’s no disruption of public transportation. Our jeepneys are traveling in order,” MMDA Chairperson Romando Artes said, speaking partly in Filipino.
“In fact, we have not deployed any Libreng Sakay vehicles — out of 400 vehicles on standby for augmentation in case they are needed. So far, as of this morning, before our press conference, we have yet to deploy one,” he said.
Transport groups Piston and Manibela’s transport strike started on April 15.
This demonstration defies the government’s earlier pronouncement that the public utility vehicles’ franchise consolidation will no longer be extended.
Piston previously said a “series of transport strikes and protest actions” would be conducted nationwide.
READ: Groups to hold transport strikes over non-extension of franchise merging
But Artes said the MMDA could talk with some members of Piston and Manibela.
“According to our talk with transport groups, particularly members of these two groups, they would still travel before they joined the strike,” he said.
“This is where we see that transport strikes first affect members of transport groups. Why? Because transport strikes cause them to lose potential earnings,” Artes added.
According to Artes, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. has given the transport groups ample time to comply with PUV consolidation — the first step in the government’s controversial PUV Modernization {rogram.
Transport groups have been calling for the complete disposal of the franchise consolidation requirement and the PUV Modernization Program, fearing that these measures would harm their livelihood.
Marcos earlier said, however, no driver would “lose their job and livelihood” under the government’s PUV Modernization Plan.