OFFICIALS said the first day of the week-long transport strike failed to paralyze public transportation in Metro Manila, and called on jeepney drivers and operators to end their protest and to just sit down for a dialogue with the government.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority acting chair Romando Artes said only a few operators and drivers joined the strike in the capital region. 

Jeepney drivers and operators are holding the week-long strike to protest the poorly planned modernization plan for public transportation. It would leave many of them jobless as they could not afford the more modern jeepneys that the government is pushing, and they were not even given enough support to acquire these, they said.

“Hindi po naparalisa ang pampublikong transportasyon. At kung mayroon man pong mga pailan-ilan na naipon na mga pasahero, hindi naman po natin matatawag na strike din. ‘Yung medyo natagalan po ang pag-ikot ng pampublikong transportasyon ay kaagad naman po nating naaksyunan,” Artes said in a press briefing. 

Artes said the number coding scheme, which the MMDA suspended on Monday in anticipation of the strike, would be implemented again beginning Tuesday.  

Commuters’ struggle

However, several commuters complained about the struggles they faced while traversing major highways in the metropolis.

Althea Cruz told republicasia that she had to wait for over half an hour just to ride a jeepney bound for Stop n Shop in Santa Mesa, Manila. 

Cruz said that it was an unusual occurrence since there used to be plenty of jeepneys plying that route.

More than 30 minutes akong nag-antay ng jeep pa-Stop n Shop kaninang umaga and nakakapanibago kasi usually talaga maraming jeep na patungo doon sa route na yun”

Althea Cruz

The commuter also mentioned that prior to the strike,  it only took her less than five minutes to find a jeepney.

Another commuter, Jeremiah Espina, said that he had to take an alternate route and ride more public vehicles than usual because of the shortage in the available PUVs.

He said that he also exceeded his daily commute allowance.

“Napamahal nga ako ng pamasahe kanina kasi nagpalipat-lipat ako ng sasakyan para makarating sa office kasi wala talagang available na jeep, puro nagkacutting trip,” Espina told republicasia.

The MMDA and several local government units deployed vehicles for free rides.

End the strike 

The MMDA, the Department of Transportation (DOTr), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) also called on transport groups to end their strike. 

DOTr Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor urged the protesters to sit down for a dialogue with the government regarding their complaints about the modernization of traditional jeepneys.

It was President Ferdinand Jr. himself who directed officials to hold a discussion with jeepney operators and drivers to hear their concerns, said Pastor, 

Para po sa amin sa kagawaran, sa government po in general, mas maigi po na pag-usapan na lang po ito. Bukas naman po ang pinto ng gobyerno, partikular po sa DOTr, dahil katulad nga po ng nabanggit kanina, pasahero po ang pineperwisyo rito at ayaw po nating mangyari yon,”

DOTr Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor

No jeepney phase out

He also said there would be no jeepney phaseout in the LTFRB circular on the modernization program. He said this deals with the consolidation period for jeepneys to be organized. 

“Nais po naming ulitin, wala pong phase out. Ang itinutulak po ng LTFRB sa MC 2023-13 ay yung end of consolidation period na sinasabi lamang po na sa bawat ruta may organized entity na tatakbo po rito,” he said. .

He said this would result in more efficient operational requirements, higher level of service, and an increase in the salary rates among jeepney drivers at operators. 

“Magiging swelduhan po sila at magkakaron po ng government-mandated benefits,” he said. 

Harassment reports 

Police said the transport strike was mostly peaceful, although there were some reports of harassment. 

Col. Roman Arugay of the National Capital Region Police Office said there were instances where some activists allegedly coerced jeepney drivers and operators who did not join the movement to participate in the march.

But Arugay said no arrests were made as there were no complaints filed against these activists.

There were also reports saying that some protesters dropped concrete nails on the road thay vehicles use. 

Libreng Sakay to continue

While the MMDA downplayed the effect of the transport strike on its first day, it said it would continue the deployment of vehicles to provide free rides to commuters who would be affected.