No jeepney strike, but Palace suspends classes

MANILA, Philippines — Citing “imminent threats” posed by a possible transport strike, Malacañang suspended anew classes in Metro Manila yesterday, drawing flak from students in the midst of their final examinations. 

Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea on Monday issued Memorandum Circular No. 42 suspending classes in public and private schools at all levels in Metro Manila.

The suspension was made “in view of the organized transport strike and in order to minimize the inconvenience to the riding public.” 

Classes were suspended even if transport groups opposed to the government’s jeepney modernization program did not hold a transport strike yesterday.

While the memorandum circular was dated March 19, it was only released to media minutes past 11 a.m. yesterday, when students and teachers were already in school. 

Some students vented their anger on social media, slamming the government for the late announcement. They also complained about the timing of the suspension, noting that many schools are having their final examinations and thesis writing sessions this week. 

Malacañang also suspended afternoon classes last Monday because of the transport strike launched by the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON), the group opposed to government efforts to phase out old jeepney models. 

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said Malacañang suspended classes because it does not want to place students at risk.

“These threats stem from the non-availability of public transport vehicles. That is what we are trying to avoid,” Roque said in a press briefing yesterday. 

“The President will not hesitate to suspend classes again if they (PISTON) threaten to launch another transport strike,” he added. 

Roque said the class suspension was announced midday Tuesday because the President presided over a meeting of the National Security Council executive committee that lasted until 3 a.m. 

“I think this is because the meeting of the National Security Council executive committee lasted until 3 (in the morning) and the President participated in that meeting,” Roque said. 

Asked why President Duterte suspended classes even if PISTON did not hold a transport strike yesterday, Roque said: “We do not know the plans of PISTON. It announced that the strike would last for a week. The President just wanted to be sure.” 

When asked to react to students’ complaints about the timing of class suspension, Roque replied: “Finals or no finals, if public transport vehicles are not available to the people, there would be possible problems.” 

Roque claimed the suspension of classes does not mean that PISTON had succeeded in paralyzing transport in Metro Manila. 

“This is not a victory for transport groups opposing the government. This is for the welfare of the youth and students,” he said. 

Roque said Monday classes would be suspended for the entire week if PISTON pushes through with its transport strike. 

Fake news

PISTON, on the other hand, hit back at Malacañang for ordering the suspension of classes.

PISTON president George San Mateo branded Malacañang’s basis for the cancellation of classes as “fake news.”

Mateo insisted his group had not announced any schedule of transport strike yesterday as a follow-up to the preceding day’s mass action.

“We denounce Malacañang for the cancellation of classes,” San Mateo said in a text message. “Malacañang is resorting to fake news.”

San Mateo said it is the government that should be blamed for the inconvenience that students experienced yesterday.

According to San Mateo, the class suspension was a move by Malacañang to fan hatred and demonize transport groups who have been holding demonstrations against the government’s modernization program for public utility vehicles.

“Malacañang is maliciously creating an atmosphere for a crackdown against legitimate protests of drivers,” he said.

He also branded as fake news a statement attributed to him on social media where he supposedly warned of transport groups joining the communist New People’s Army (NPA) if their demands are not met.

“We never issued such a threat. We condemn the propagation of this fake news,” he said.

Militants groups also slammed Malacañang for spreading a scuttlebutt over suspension of classes.

“Malacañang wanted to send a strong message to transport groups, at the expense of the students. Many students have already gone to school in the morning as transportation was normal, since there was no strike,” said Renato Reyes of Bagong Alyansang Makabayan.

“Transport groups have legitimate grievances that should not be easily dismissed or portrayed as  ‘threats’ to the people,” he said.

Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) also criticized the order on class suspension.

KMU said Malacañang threatened to suspend classes for the rest of the week, claiming that it was for the “safety and protection” of the public even if the Philippine National Police already said that they had not monitored any threats due to the strike.

“These tactics are a blatant attempt to discredit PUJ drivers and operators’ legitimate struggle for their livelihood. The clear objective is to lay the groundwork to justify further violent attacks and retaliation against those who participated in the strike,” KMU chairman Elmer Labog said.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Martin Delgra III said San Mateo should realize that their actions are only hurting the riding public.

“Is that what you want, for the people to be inconvenienced?” Delgra said.

Instead of fighting the government, Delgra said San Mateo should accept the modernization program for PUVs.

“The only way to go here is to embrace modernization,” he said.

Anakpawis party-list Rep. Ariel Casilao branded the government’s jeepney modernization program as a “sham.”

“The PUV modernization is a ‘fake’ program, as its mission is plainly to phase out jeepneys so big foreign firms could snatch big chunks in the mass transport market share, displacing many small drivers, mechanics and small entrepreneurs, while their profits are being secured via imposing of fare hikes on commuters,” Casilao said in a press statement.

He called for “a more comprehensive rehabilitation program” for jeepneys, instead of a phase out.

The LTFRB also warned the petitioners of a P2 fare increase for passenger jeepneys to make up their minds whether they will continue with their petition or file an amended one or their case will be dismissed.

This came after the LTFRB again reset the hearing on the petition for fare increase filed by the transport groups, the fifth time it has been rescheduled since Oct. 11, 2017.

Lando Marquez, president of the Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP), asked for a postponement of the hearing, citing the absence of their lawyer.

Marquez said he and the other petitioners are still discussing their next course of action, whether to push through with their current petition or file an amended one seeking a new fare matrix for modernized jeepneys: P10 for non air-conditioned and P12 for air-conditioned jeepneys.

Delgra told Marquez to make up his mind about the group’s petition. “If nothing happens, then we will have this case dismissed for lack of interest,” he said.

LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada added the fare hike petition should be resolved before the transport groups roll out their modern vehicles, which is expected to take place either April or May this year.

Delgra said they will no longer reset another hearing in the event the petitioners could not arrive at a decision by April 18.

“It should not continue this way so we gave then one last extension,” he said. –Emmanuel Tupas, Mayen Jaymalin, Ding Cervantes, Rhodina Villanueva