TRANSPORT STRIKE FAILS TO CRIPPLE METRO MANILA

THE government said on Monday that the first day of the two-day transport strike failed to paralyze Metro Manila.

"The traffic was continuous, the passengers were continuously boarding, [and] there were no long queues," said the chairman of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Teofilo Guadiz III.

Guadiz said rescue buses were put in position in case of a shortage of vehicles to key areas in Metro Manila due to the transport strike.

But they later found that based on their monitoring, the rescue buses were not needed, he said.

"So far, we did not see anyone in need because when we toured the key areas in Metro Manila, public transportation was enough," he said.

However, Guadiz said it was still possible that the rescue buses would be used later on.

Jeepneys are parked along Commonwealth and Quezon Avenues in Quezon City on the first day of the transport strike on Monday, April 15, 2024. PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

Jeepneys are parked along Commonwealth and Quezon Avenues in Quezon City on the first day of the transport strike on Monday, April 15, 2024. PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

Jeepneys are parked along Commonwealth and Quezon Avenues in Quezon City on the first day of the transport strike on Monday, April 15, 2024. PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

Jeepneys are parked along Commonwealth and Quezon Avenues in Quezon City on the first day of the transport strike on Monday, April 15, 2024. PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

Jeepneys are parked along Commonwealth and Quezon Avenues in Quezon City on the first day of the transport strike on Monday, April 15, 2024. PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

Jeepneys are parked along Commonwealth and Quezon Avenues in Quezon City on the first day of the transport strike on Monday, April 15, 2024. PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

Jeepneys are parked along Commonwealth and Quezon Avenues in Quezon City on the first day of the transport strike on Monday, April 15, 2024. PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

Jeepneys are parked along Commonwealth and Quezon Avenues in Quezon City on the first day of the transport strike on Monday, April 15, 2024. PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

Jeepneys are parked along Commonwealth and Quezon Avenues in Quezon City on the first day of the transport strike on Monday, April 15, 2024. PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

Jeepneys are parked along Commonwealth and Quezon Avenues in Quezon City on the first day of the transport strike on Monday, April 15, 2024. PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

Jeepneys are parked along Commonwealth and Quezon Avenues in Quezon City on the first day of the transport strike on Monday, April 15, 2024. PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

Jeepneys are parked along Commonwealth and Quezon Avenues in Quezon City on the first day of the transport strike on Monday, April 15, 2024. PHOTOS BY JOHN ORVEN VERDOTE

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) also said it did not monitor any public transport disruption following the strike initiated by transport groups Manibela and Piston.

MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said in a media briefing that none of their 400 vehicles on standby had been deployed.

Manibela and Piston announced their plan to hold a two-day nationwide strike starting April 15 to protest the government's Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Manibela and Piston have conducted several transport strikes to stop the government from carrying out the PUVMP, the first step of which is to consolidate jeepney drivers and operators into cooperatives or corporations, a move they oppose.

Piston has also filed a petition over the PUVMP before the Supreme Court to stop the enforcement of the deadline for franchise consolidation.

In its petition, Piston said the administrative orders issued by the Department of Transportation and LTFRB on the modernization program were "oppressive, overreaching and confiscatory" in nature, violating their right to due process, equal protection of laws, and right against unreasonable seizures.

Guadiz said the LTFRB and MMDA found no stranded commuters during the morning rush hours.

He said rescue buses will remain on standby because it's possible that those who do not agree with the government's program may try to intimidate working PUV drivers.

He noted that the strikers have gathered for a demonstration at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman and have threatened to stop PUVs during the evening rush hour.

Earlier, Piston reported that about 400 jeepney drivers and operators joined their protest at University Avenue in UP Diliman.

Guadiz warned PUV operators that those who remain unconsolidated beyond the April 30 deadline will not be allowed to continue dispatching PUVs and will be issued a notice or a show cause order that may result in the revocation or suspension of their franchise.

Last week, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the April 30 deadline for the franchise consolidation of PUVs under the government's transport modernization program would no longer be extended.

The Philippine National Police (PNP), meanwhile, said it had not monitored any untoward incident during the transport strike.

PNP spokesman Col. Jean Fajardo, said the situation, especially in the streets of Metro Manila, was normal.

"I've spoken to personnel of the NCRPO (National Capital Region Police Office); they said they have not monitored any stranded commuters," she told reporters.

WITH PNA