Government ready for transport strike; some classes suspended

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang has assured the public that the government is prepared for the three-day nationwide jeepney strike, which starts today.

As a pre-emptive measure, several schools have suspended face-to-face classes today, opting instead for alternative learning modes.

At least 100,000 public utility jeepneys (PUJs) are anticipated to participate in the three-day strike.

In a report to Malacañang, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the government would provide more buses in the EDSA bus carousel and additional trains in the MRT-3 and LRT lines 1 and 2.

Dizon said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority would also offer free bus rides to commuters in affected areas.

Transport group Manibela announced the strike last week to protest what it claims are erroneous figures regarding the implementation of the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).

Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena claimed discrepancies in consolidation records reported by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) are impacting the livelihood of jeepney drivers.

The consolidation into a cooperative or a corporation is the first step of the modernization program.

Dizon, meanwhile, urged transport groups to sit down for a dialogue and not to proceed with the transport strike.

The transportation chief said he was making the appeal on behalf of Filipinos “who are already having a hard time commuting every day.”

“Let’s just talk first so that the new leadership at DOTr (Department of Transportation) understands your grievances,” Dizon said in Filipino.

Valbuena earlier said false data on the PUV modernization program prevented PUV drivers with expired provisional authorities from renewing their registration.

He said President Marcos and the public were misled by the LTFRB in reporting that 86 percent of PUV operators had consolidated, Valbuena said.

Dizon, however, admitted that only 43 percent of jeepney operators had been approved for consolidation.

The 86-percent consolidation rate reported by the LTFRB only reflected operators who submitted their requirements, not those officially approved, Dizon said.

LTFRB chair’s resignation urged

Amid the PUVMP dispute, Valbuena has called on LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz III to step down.

“Until now, we have yet to hear from Guadiz. He should resign as he does not deserve his position and the trust of the people,” Valbuena said in a radio interview.

The transport group leader also claimed that the number of PUJs covered by PUVMP may be lower than 43 percent since Dizon’s figure includes jeepneys, buses and UV express.

“It is possible that the number of consolidated PUJs was only 30 to 35 percent only. This is the reason why we decided to hold a nationwide transport strike to condemn the deception of LTFRB,” he said.

“Because of the wrong data given to the President that the consolidation was already high, President Marcos decided not to extend our operation. We were tagged as colorum. We were not allowed to register our jeepneys. Every time we operate, there is always fear of apprehension and worse, we are forced to give money to enforcers for them not to apprehend us,” he added.

Valbuena said that because they are now considered colorum, one member of Manibela was fined P50,000.

“Many of our members are being fined P12,000 for every apprehension and the biggest amount was P50,000. Until now, the ticket is with us as we don’t have P50,000 to pay for the fine as we only earn a little,” he said.

According to him, the fine set for colorum PUJ is P50,000; UV express, P200,000 and buses, P1 million.

He said that the authorities will not offer Libreng Sakay to passengers affected by the transport strike if the 86 percent consolidation rate is true.

Valbuena said that Manibela is ready to dialogue with Dizon but maintained that the new secretary should be sincere in his efforts.

“Based on our experience with previous officials, they organized dialogue with us but they were still blind and deaf to our call. Hunger motivates us to go on strike,” Valbuena said.

Meanwhile, schools that have announced suspensions until March 26 included De La Salle University, Manuel L. Quezon University, Philippine College of Criminology, St. Louis Anne Colleges of San Pedro Laguna, Trinity University of Asia and University of the East. — Bella Cariaso, Neil Jayson Servallos