Photo by Faith Argosino | INQUIRER.net
MANILA, Philippines — Transport group Manibela President Mar Valbuena revealed on Wednesday that it was possible that the transport strike would extend until Friday.
The groups staged a protest near Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon’s office along Edsa Greenhills in San Juan City.
The group is holding a transport strike after it accused the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) of falsifying the data about the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
“Possible. But it’s safe to say for now that we plan to extend because we will assess first later this afternoon,” Valbuena said in Filipino in an ambush interview when asked about a strike extension.
In a separate interview, Valbuena disclosed that Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon had invited them to talk.
“He said, if not tomorrow [Wednesday], Thursday or Friday. He said he was called in Malacañang. You invited us, but you did not show up,” the Manibela president said.
Earlier, LTFRB spokesperson Ariel Inton denied allegations of falsification of the data on the PTMP.
For his part, Dizon told the public on Monday that the government would not stop implementing the much-delayed PTMP.
Nevertheless, he said he was open to changes in the program to address the concerns of the transport groups.
The Philippine National Police deployed more than 48,000 personnel to various terminals and transportation hubs nationwide to ease a lack of public vehicles during the protest.