Commuters in Pasig City stranded amid transport group Manibela and Piston on Sept. 23, 2024. (Photo from Manibela
MANILA, Philippines — Many commuters in different parts of Metro Manila were left stranded amid a two-day transport strike organized by transport groups Manibela and Piston.
The strike is in protest of the government’s Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
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Based on photos posted by Manibela, dozens of commuters flocked to the sides of the street to wait for a ride, particularly in Pasig, Las Piñas, and Quezon City.
These incidents happened as about 90,000 Piston and Manibela members were expected to join the nationwide strike.
“The passengers are really miserable because of the abuses of the DOTr [Department of Transportation] and LTFRB [Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board],” Manibela said in Filipino in a photo caption.
The LTFRB earlier announced that it would deploy “Libreng Sakay” (free rides) vehicles in different areas to offset the effects of the strike.
It also urged members of the two groups to consider joining the program as it announced plans to reopen the consolidation process for drivers and operators who failed to beat the April 30 deadline.
Under the consolidation, public transport drivers and operators must join or form cooperatives to avail themselves of the program’s benefits.
Stranded commuters in Pasig City amid the transport strike of Manibela and Piston on Sept. 23, 2024. (Photo from Manibela)
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According to the LTFRB, a total of 159,682 — or 83.3 percent of the 191,730 PUVs nationwide — have consolidated under the PTMP after the April 30 deadline.
Meanwhile, a total of 1,781 cooperatives with 262,870 members have also been accredited by the Office of Transport Cooperatives.