Manibela’s 3-day transport strike starts, leaves commuters worried | ABS-CBN

ADVERTISEMENT

dpo-dps-seal
Welcome, Kapamilya! We use cookies to improve your browsing experience. Continuing to use this site means you agree to our use of cookies. Tell me more!

News

Manibela’s 3-day transport strike starts, leaves commuters worried

Manibela’s 3-day transport strike starts, leaves commuters worried

Jessie Cruzat,

Lyza Aquino,

ABS-CBN News

 | 

Updated Aug 14, 2024 09:56 AM PHT

Clipboard

Drivers participate in the transport protest organized by Manibela along Quirino Highway in Quezon City on August 12, 2024. A larger transport strike is planned for August 15 and 16, in hopes of receiving an affirmative response from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to their call for the suspension of the PUV Modernization Act. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News

MANILA – Transport group Manibela pushed through a 3-day transport strike in Metro Manila starting Wednesday until Friday. 

This in protest of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s support for the public transport modernization program (PTMP). 

“Ipaglalaban namin ang karapatan. Ipi-phase out mo ‘yang jeep mo? Isipin mo kukuha ka ng modern jeep hindi mo kaya P2.8 million. Samantalang kung may P500,000 makakakuha ka na ng magandang jeep,” said jeepney driver Aldrin Yubueno, a member of Manibela. 

Marcos last week rejected the Senate’s call to pause the PTMP due to some concerns from jeepney drivers and operators, about 20 percent of whom have not yet consolidated into cooperatives, which the program requires.   

ADVERTISEMENT

“Hindi ibinibigay ‘yong karapatan sa amin e. Gusto ibitaw talaga. Paano naman kami mahubuhay,” jeepney driver Ricardo Losugreo said. 

Some drivers said that they are members of a cooperative and would not be participating in the strike. Others were prohibited by their operators from joining.


“Sa operator kasi namin ito. Naka-coop kaya pwede kaming makabiyahe. Hindi po [kami sasama]. Bibiyahe po kami,” said jeepney driver Romnick Neri who plies the Navotas-Monumento route. 

Other drivers like Jeffry Soriano said he was just waiting for the go signal from their group before he joins the strike. 

"Sa ngayon po wala pang abiso kung anong oras magsisimula. Noong nakaraang araw nag-strike kami, maraming naapektuhan. Kapag sinabi nilang tigil-pasada na, yun na. Pakikisama rin sa mga kasamahan namin na lumalaban para sa PUV modernization," he said.


Meanwhile, some commuters said they were worried about the possible effect of the transport strike. 

“Mahirap na naman lalo na sa aming mga commuter. Gigising ka ng maaga tapos malilate ka. ‘Yong hirap ng pagsakay kasi hindi rin biro, e,” said Leo Nueza, who takes a jeepney ride everyday going to work. 

“Mahirap pong humanap ng sasakyan lalo na po kung rush hour na rin po tapos papasok pa lang po ng trabaho or school. Mahirap po humanap ng sasakyan or malayo po ‘yong lalakarin,” said April Yaoto, another commuter. 

Piston, another group opposing the program, earlier said it would join the strike. 

At around 5 a.m. Wednesday, some 200 policemen were deployed in front of Monumento to maintain peace and order during the transport strike. 

ADVERTISEMENT

ADVERTISEMENT

It looks like you’re using an ad blocker

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.

Our website is made possible by displaying online advertisements to our visitors. Please consider supporting us by disabling your ad blocker on our website.