Govt, transport groups differ on strike's impact

(UPDATE) TRANSPORT groups on Monday claimed that the first day of their weeklong strike on Monday successfully paralyzed public transportation in Metro Manila and other areas in the country, but government agencies reported that the protest action against the PUV modernization program (PUVMP) hardly made an impact.In a press briefing, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Technical Division chief Joel Bolano said that as of 11 a.m., the strike had affected only 10 percent of routes in the National Capital Region (NCR).Authorities also received no reports of stranded commuters.Buses and vehicles offering free rides were standing by in case the strike worsens, Bolano said."We haven't seen a passenger buildup until now," he said.In other regions, particularly Calabarzon (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon), the strike has only a "moderate" effect, Bolano said, affecting only 5 percent of transport routes.At least 11 major jeepney and UV (utility vehicle) groups in Metro Manila led by Manibela, an alliance of UV drivers and a party-list group, called the strike.Several transport groups in some provinces, however, decided not to take part in the protest action.Four big transport organizations in the Bicol Region said they did not join because they were not consulted by the striking groups.Passenger jeepneys also continued to ply their routes in Iloilo and Bacolod City, based on monitoring by the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office and the LTFRB.But Edrich Samonte, PARA-Advocates for Inclusive Transport (PARA-AIT) convenor, gave a different assessment, saying that in certain areas, public transportation was 100 percent paralyzed.Samonte did not identify the particular areas where the strike was successful.He said the biggest problem faced by the protesters is food."We are now having a struggle with food and donations," he said.To help protesters, members of Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) offered free bread and coffee to other drivers along Morayta Street in Sampaloc, Manila.As early as 8 a.m., Piston claimed that the strike shut down 80 percent of public transportation in Metro Manila.Piston President Mody Floranda said early Monday jeepneys and other public transport had abandoned their routes to and from Cogeo in Antipolo, San Mateo in Rizal, Novaliches and Philcoa in Quezon City, and Monumento."We expect by later today, we would have reached 100 percent public transport paralyzation not only in the entire Metro Manila but also in other parts of the country," Floranda said in an interview.He said at least seven jeepney routes in Cubao, Quezon City, have been totally paralyzed. Other areas also severely affected are Baclaran, parts of Parañaque City, and Alabang in Muntinlupa City.LTFRB Chairman Teofilo Guadiz 3rd appealed to transport groups to cut short their strike.Guadiz said the government is willing to dialogue with the strikers to address their concerns."We're willing to adjust to your needs. What's important is we have an understanding, we have one common denominator, and that is the welfare of the passengers," he said.Guadiz announced that the deadline for PUV consolidation and modernization has been moved from June 30 to December 31, and will be made official through a memorandum that will be released next week."During that time, the different deadlines for the completion of the PUVMP will be pushed back. Effectively, the first phase of the PUVMP will be moved back to 2024," he said.

Guadiz said he already had dialogues with transport groups including Manibela, Laban TNVS and Piston, organizations behind the transport strike.