Bus strike averted

A transport strike was averted yesterday after the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) managed to convince the affected parties to bear with the last three days of the experimental number-coding scheme on public utility vehicles (PUVs).

The transport groups agreed to comply with the directive of MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando for the next three days even as they admitted that their operations would be seriously affected.

Integrated Metro Manila Bus Operators Association president Claire de la Fuente said that her organization would no longer defy the coding scheme just as they did Monday up to yesterday afternoon.

A total of 250 buses were apprehended by the MMDA for violation of the scheme last Monday.

Dela Fuente said their group would no longer take legal action against the MMDA and that they would settle all of the traffic violation receipts issued to their members.

Fernando, for his part agreed to reduce the fines as a sign of appreciation for their cooperation.

He also announced that the number-coding scheme on the private vehicles would be implemented on Monday as part of a one-week experiment.

The fate of the number-coding scheme would be known this Friday during the meeting of the Metro Manila mayors.

In another development, taxi operators are eyeing a P10 increase in flagdown rates if ever pump prices reach P21 per liter.

Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTRFB) Chairman Dante Lantin said the plan to hike the flagdown to P35 was revealed during his meeting with the Association of Taxi Operators in Metro Manila last Monday.

"It’s just a plan. There is no formal petition yet," he said. – Marvin Sy, Ann Corvera