On the second day of the week-long transport strike to protest the government’s Public Utility Modernization program, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced that the transport situation in the capital region has now returned mostly to “normal.” 

The MMDA, in a Facebook post, said there were protesting transport group members in Quezon City and Caloocan, but the situation in most parts of the metropolis have returned to its previous state. 

“Batay sa transport strike monitoring ng MMDA, normal na ang sitwasyon bagamat may mangilan-ngilan na nagsasagawa ng tigil-pasada sa bahagi ng Quezon City at Monumento sa Caloocan,” it said. 

Free rides not needed

It also said it has received requests to limit the deployment of the “Libreng Sakay” vehicles because transport services within Metro Manila are still largely functioning. 

“May natatanggap ding request na bawasan ang deployment ng Libreng Sakay sa mga piling lugar dahil marami nang bumiyahe na public utility vehicles,” it said. 

However, despite commuters experiencing less hassle today, these freeride platforms would remain on stand-by in case there is a need for them, it said.  

Some netizens, however, reported to the MMDA that they were experiencing transport problems via the comment section of its Facebook page. 

Strike continues, no major incidents reported  

The transport groups pushed through with the second day of their week-long strike today despite officials downplaying the effect of the first day of their protest. The MMDA had said that it failed to paralyze public transportation. 

But the transport groups said the first day had been successful. 

The first day of the strike was also “generally peaceful,” according to the National Capital Region Police Office. 

But NCRPO chief Maj. Gen. Edgar Allan Okubo still directed the utilization of all available mobility assets of local government units as well as other government agencies to help those who might have difficulty commuting. 

More than 4,300 police personnel from the NCRPO and 200 personnel from the Regional Mobile Force Battalion were also deployed to secure the continued transport operations in the metropolis, said Okubo.

He attributed the generally peaceful situation to the efforts of government agencies, local government units, and non-government organizations. 

He would continue with efforts to ensure the peaceful and safe conduct of the week-long transport strike, he said. 

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