MANILA – Malacañang on Monday said the ongoing three-day transport strike led by the group Manibela has yet to significantly affect commuters and traffic flow in Metro Manila.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the initial assessment showed the impact of the strike has thus far been minimal, stressing the government was prepared to assist commuters should any inconvenience arise.
“Sa kasalukuyan, hindi pa naman po apektado yung mga commuters natin. Lalung lalo na po na talagang handa ang administrasyon na tumulong sa anumang maaring maging inconvenience sa mga commuters (As of now, our commuters are not affected yet. Specially because the government is prepared to address whatever inconvenience it may cause our commuters),” Castro said.
The Palace official also reiterated the appeal of the Department of Transportation to Manibela to engage in dialogue to address their concerns.
“Ang mga commuters po natin mga inosente po. Ang nais po ni Secretary Vince Dizon ay mag-usap po at ibigay nila sa bagong liderato ng DOTr yung gma ninanais nila. Sana wag na po natin idaman yung mga commuters (The commuters are innocent. What Secretary Vince Dizon wants is to discuss their grievances. Let’s not drag the commuters into this),” she said.
The strike, organized by the Manibela group, is a protest against the alleged falsification of data of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board regarding the implementation of the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
The PTMP is the government’s jeepney modernization program, which seeks to phase out older jeepneys in favor of newer and more environmentally friendly models.
On Sunday, the government said it would deploy "libreng sakay" (free ride) and increase the number of buses and trains in Metro Manila to assist commuters who may be affected by the three-day strike.
Military deploys trucks for free ride
The military's National Capital Region Command (NCRCOM) on Monday announced that it has deployed three of its vehicles in Navotas City to help commuters that might be affected by the ongoing transport strike.
In an interview with reporters, NCRCOM public affairs office chief Maj. John Marc Rojas said they have deployed two KM-250 trucks and a KM-450 truck to provide transportation assistance.
He added that these vehicles are to help commuters that might be affected by the strike and "augment the resources of the Navotas CDRRMO (City Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office)".
Rojas estimates that these military vehicles can provide free transport to "more or less 500 commuters." (with report from Priam Nepomuceno/PNA)