Manibela sets another 3-day transport strike

SUSPEND the PUV Modernization Program – those in favor protests or goes on strike.

Continuing with the program, those against  will conducted rallies or protests.

In the end, the passengers or daily commuters will be hit by the see-saw battle, with each side hoping to create an impact to the government by having hapless workers be stranded on the streets.

This is the aim of the Transport Group Manibela, as they announced that they had set a 3-day transport strike next week from August 14 to 16.

According to Manibela national chairman Mar Valbuena , they had already applied for a permit from the Manila city government.

“Hindi ko kami nananakot, sa susunod na Miyerkules, kung walang manilaw na direktiba mula sa Malacanang, kung papaano itong minorya na natitira, strike po kami…magka-caravan kami, kami naman ang pupunta sa Malacanang upang ipanawagan ito sa pangulo,” Valbuena said.

Those in favor recently conducted a rally against the resolution that was filed by resolution signed by 22 senators calling for the suspension of the PUVMP.

The said plan came after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., had announced that the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) would push through despite a Senate resolution calling for its suspension.

But according to Valbuena, Marcos Jr., was being fed with wrong information from agencies behind the implementation of the modernization program.

“Laging ang majority na lamang ang pinapakinggan ng ating pangulo, sana naman mahal na pangulo maging patas kayo, huwag kayong magpabulag sa maling datos na ibinibigay sa inyo ng mga ahensiya – ang DOTr at LTFRB,“ Valbuena said.

“Hindi ko po alam mahal na pangulo kung nagbubulag-bulagan kayo, sinasabi ninyo minorya, mayorya, hindi ito ang dapat na sinasabi ng isang pangulo sa kanyan mga anak, sa kanyang bayan. Ang dapat pantay-pantay na pagtingin,” he continued. 

But DOTr Undersecretary Andy Ortega said Marcos was just being consistent with the modernization program.

“Consistent lamang ang pangulo sa kanyang sinabi kahapon – tuloy ang programa, majority ng transportasyon ay kasama natin sa programa. Yung pagpapaliban nung nakaraang administrasyon saka itong sa ating Pangulo…this was basically was to make everybody be properly informed, make everybody – those na gustong sumama, sumama,” Ortega said.

Valbuena said this was cheaper compared to the modern jeepneys under the PTMP.

“Ayaw natin na nakatayo yung ating mga pasahero, kumpleto po ito, may dashcam, may CCTV, at Euro-4 compliant na rin po ang engine nito. Surplus po ito, pero wala naman po kasing ibinibigay sa atin na bagong makina. Yung nagastos po natin sa body niya ay P700,000 pero napakaganda at napakatibay, yung makina ay nasa P300,000 po,” Valbuena said.