MMDA belittles Manibela strike anew

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) belittled anew Manibela’s transport strike yesterday, saying it had “no effect” on public transportation.

No stranded passengers were recorded, acting MMDA Chairman Romando Artes claimed.

At least 2,000 members of Manibela joined the first day of the three-day transport strike, protesting at the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) office in Quezon City.

LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III did not appear before the protesters, Manibela president Mar Valbuena told The STAR.

“We did not expect him to talk to us,” Valbuena said.

The MMDA has yet to discuss with the LTFRB, the Land Transportation Office and the Philippine National Police (PNP) on a mechanism to apprehend unconsolidated public utility jeepneys, Artes said.

A technical working group is expected to formulate penalties against colorum public utility vehicles starting this week, he added.

Artes earlier said the MMDA is not yet authorized to flag suspected colorum PUVs and the agency would await orders from the Department of Transportation.

In April, the Department of the Interior and Local Government, the Department of Transportation and the MMDA formed a body against colorum vehicles.

Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos warned that violators could face fines of up to P1 million.

Meanwhile, a radio reporter claimed he was mobbed by some rallyists while covering the protest.

Val Gonzales of dzRH claimed that Manibela members ganged up and punched him.

Gonzales allegedly cursed protesters for causing heavy traffic.

“As a member of the media, he should not be biased and observe balance in his reporting. If he thinks we were causing traffic, we will understand that if he is a commuter, but he is supposed to report the protest,” Valbuena said.

“He provoked our members twice. We will file a case against him instead. He pushed the protesters and elbowed some of our members,” he added.

Charges will be filed against Manibela, dzRH station manager and vice president for legal Rudolf Steve Jularbal said in a statement.

PNP chief information officer Col. Jean Fajardo said they would assist Gonzales if he files a complaint.

The PNP Press Corps urged authorities to take action against Manibela.

The Presidential Task Force on Media Security (PTFOMS) denounced the alleged physical assault.

PTFoMS executive director Paul Gutierrez has coordinated with Quezon City Police District director Brig. Gen. Redrico Maranan to summon Valbuena.

Field reporter Allan Gatus of dzBB was also verbally abused by protesting jeepney drivers during an earlier strike staged by Manibela, Gutierrez claimed.

Members of Manibela also accused reporters of being “biased” and receiving bribes, he added.

Rally for TRO

A protest action will be held today in front of the Supreme Court to reiterate calls for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) against the public utility vehicle modernization program, according to Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide deputy secretary general Ruben Baylon.

Piston filed a petition against the PUVMP in December 2023.

The three-month extension given by President Marcos to unconsolidated PUJs ended on April 30.

Impounding of unconsolidated units, which are considered colorum or unauthorized PUVs, began mid-May.

Piston supports Manibela’s call to allow traditional jeepneys to operate for one year, as agreed during a House of Representatives hearing.

“Why is the LTFRB refusing to issue a memorandum circular to allow the operation of traditional jeepneys for one year?” Baylon asked.

Some Piston members were apprehended amid the crackdown on colorum PUJs, he noted. — Mark Ernest Villeza, Emmanuel Tupas, Helen Flores