Metro Manila commuters stranded ahead of transport strike

MANILA, Philippines — Many commuters in Metro Manila were stranded yesterday as transport group Manibela started its mobilization ahead of the march to Mendiola on Wednesday to protest the decision of President Marcos to reject the call of the Senate to suspend implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

In an interview with The STAR, Manibela president Mar Valbuena said the mobilization was just supposed to be a protest. However, many jeepney drivers allegedly joined the activity at the protest centers.

Valbuena said the affected areas include Muñoz Market, Novaliches, Fairview, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Balintawak, Cubao, and Projects 2 and 3 in Quezon City; Monumento, Bagong Silang, Camarin and Almar in Caloocan; Parañaque; Marikina; Pasig City; Bicutan in Taguig; Manila, Alabang, Muntinlupa and San Juan.

He added that members of Manibela and Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) would march to Mendiola on Wednesday.

“Majority have yet to join the consolidation as they are confused on the implementation of PUVMP,” Valbuena claimed.

“We want to tell the President that even if he considers us a minority, we still have the right to live and to continue our source of livelihood,” he said.

Marcos, in standing firm on his decision to implement the PUVMP, said 80 percent of public utility jeepneys have joined the consolidation. Twenty-two senators earlier signed a resolution calling for the suspension of the program.

Piston president Mody Floranda said his group would join Manibela on Wednesday, with up to 13,000 drivers, operators and commuters marching to Mendiola.

“Based on our experience, we were not allowed to proceed to Mendiola. Authorities allowed the unity walk (of groups supporting PUVMP), they should allow us also to reach Mendiola,” Floranda said.

The activity, he added, is aside from the simultaneous protests to be held in Iloilo, Panay, Bacolod, Davao, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Baguio City and Mindanao.

According to Floranda, those who will join the protests on Aug. 14 will march to the Department of Transportation and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board offices in their localities.

For his part, Kilusang Mayo Uno secretary general Jerome Adonis said Marcos should not use as basis the 82 percent of transport groups that joined the PUVMP in his decision to continue the modernization program.

“No less than Marcos said the program was delayed seven times. This only shows there is a problem, but refuses to talk about it,” Adonis said.