Manibela sets 3-day transport strike

MANILA, Philippines — Transport group Manibela yesterday warned it would stage a three-day transport strike next week if President Marcos fails to hear calls to allow traditional jeepneys to continue operating.

Marcos had rejected a Senate resolution to suspend the public utility vehicle modernization program, saying the PUVMP’s implementation had been postponed seven times.

“This is not a threat or a condition. We are asking to continue our livelihood,” Manibela president Mar Valbuena said.

He said the strike would start on Aug. 14 “if there is no clear directive” from Malacañang, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) or Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on what should be done with the “minority,” referring to traditional jeepney operators.

The PUVMP, which was started in 2017, seeks to replace jeepneys with modern units that have Euro 4-compliant engines to reduce pollution.

The program also requires individual PUV operators to consolidate their franchises into cooperatives or corporations.

Valbuena noted that there are still no clear guidelines on the operation of traditional jeepneys.

He questioned the basis for route rationalization and asked where to get funds for the acquisition of modernized vehicles. A modern jeepney unit costs over P2 million.

The Senate backed the move to suspend the PUVMP due to the insufficiency of the government’s information drive and the “burden of financing the cost of modern PUVs, which greatly exceeds the financial capacity of drivers and operators.”

Senators also noted that only 174 or 11.05 percent of 1,574 local government units have approved their Local Public Transport Route Plan.

The LTFRB initially said that PUVs that did not consolidate after April 30 would be considered operating without a franchise.

However, the LTFRB said in July that unconsolidated jeepneys and UV Express units would be allowed to operate in over 2,500 routes with a low number of consolidations.