Group offers to ferry stranded commuters during planned transport strike

MANILA, Philippines—A group of transport operators has offered to help the government deal with a planned transport strike on Monday by fielding their jeepneys, tricycles and other vehicles to ferry stranded commuters.

The National Land Transport Council said it will not join the transport strike to protest the frequent increases in the prices of gasoline and other petroleum products.

Ronnie Tarriela, president of the National Federation of AUV Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, called on his colleagues to service the stranded passengers.

In a press conference, Tarriela said they will ask the Philippine National Police and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority not to apprehend the AUVs plying out-of-line routes on Monday.

The group is under the NLTC, which also counts among its members tricycle and jeepney operators who said they will not participate in the strike.

“We would rather provide service to the public by ferrying them rather than cause inconvenience,” said Vulfre Estepa, chair of the NLTC.

The other member groups are the National Confederation of Tricycle Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, the National Confederation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, and the Jeepney Transport Council.

Estepa said they still believe that the administration can address the problems plaguing the transport sector, particularly high pump prices.

“The government should be given a chance to study the demands presented by the transport sector. A strike is not the answer,” he added.