MANILA, Philippines – City Government of Metro Manila provides free rides to commuters affected by the 2 days transport strike which starts today.
The Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) announced yesterday that they would proceed with the planned transport strike today, in response to President Marcos’ declaration that the year-end deadline for the consolidation of Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) operators will not be prolonged
“After Bongbong Marcos announced yesterday (Tuesday) that he won’t grant an extension of the consolidation of the franchises, jeepney operators and drivers all over the country have become more determined to push through with the strike,” Piston president Mody Floranda said.
Floranda previously stated that the strike could involve more than 100,000 units, potentially causing significant disruptions to major transportation routes in both Metro Manila and the provinces.
The transport group said that the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) would negatively impact over 140,000 drivers and 60,000 operators across the country. Additionally, it is expected to affect over 28.5 million commuters who rely on mass transportation services.
The LTFRB asserted that 70 percent of Public Utility Vehicles (PUVs) have complied with the consolidation requirement. However, Piston argued that this figure might only be approximately 26 percent for jeepneys in Metro Manila and 36 percent for UV Express vehicles.
If the consolidation requirement remains unfixed, over 68,830 PUVs may be left without franchises and will be prohibited from operating their routes by January 1, 2024. According to LTFRB data, a total of 153,787 units of jeepneys, UV Express, and buses are set to be consolidated by the end of December.
On Wednesday, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reassured the public that it will actively monitor the traffic conditions in Metro Manila during the transportation strike. Additionally, the MMDA mentioned the possibility of deploying vehicles to provide free rides to commuters who may be affected by the strike.
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