A TOP Cabinet official expressed confidence on Sunday that public transportation will not be paralyzed by the threat of drivers and public utility vehicle operators to wage a strike on Monday and Tuesday.
Transport group Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers (MANIBELA) will lead the nationwide transport strike to call for the suspension of the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, which will replace diesel-powered traditional jeepneys with more environment-friendly vehicles.
However, Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin C. Abalos assured the public that 95% of the country’s transport groups nationwide will still operate and ply their routes.
Still, Abalos said the government has prepositioned several vehicles at strategic areas to convey passengers who might be affected by the transport strike.
Meanwhile, at least nine schools, mostly in Metro Manila, have announced the suspension of face-to-face classes due to the transport strike.
Mr. Abalos said several governments, among them the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the Land Transportation Office, the Department of Transportation, and the police will be monitoring the situation.
In a statement, MANIBELA insisted that the government should allow traditional jeepneys to operate beyond the Dec. 31 deadline set by the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
“MANIBELA transport group will lead a transport strike and protest in front of the LTFRB, DoTr and Malacañan Palace simultaneously to express our dismay to some officials of the LTFRB, especially to those involved in multi million pesos ‘lagayan scheme,’” it said. — Ashley Erika O. Jose
