PISTON AND MANIBELA TO HELD A THREE-DAY TRANSPORT STRIKE ON AUGUST 13-16

Transport groups Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) and Samahang Manibela at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (Manibela) has set a “big-time” nationwide transport strike on Wednesday to call on the rejected suspension of the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).

These group of jeepney drivers and operators were seeking for the suspension of PUVMP and didn’t want to join the program as they can see that many lost their livelihoods who earlier availed of franchise consolidation when the program pushed through.

Several commuters will have a hard time as the transport groups Manibela and Piston is set to held a transport strike protest (Photo courtesy of AFP/Jam Sta. Rosa)

The transport group Manibela already launched a transport strike on Monday that left some passengers in Quezon City stranded. The Piston group also announced that they will join in the protest on the three-day nationwide transport strike that will last until Friday (August 14 to August 16).

PISTON president Mody Floranda said, “There are different types of protests: Marches, caravans, and strikes on routes. These are our responses to Bongbong Marcos' announcement that he will no longer grant extension to our operators.”

"We will not stop from exercising our constitutional rights. With or without permits, we would go on with our simultaneous nationwide transport strike on Wednesday," Floranda said.

Manibela president Mar Valbuena said the affected areas include Muñoz Market, Novaliches, Fairview, Commonwealth Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Balintawak, Cubao, and Projects 2 and 3 in Quezon City; Monumento, Bagong Silang, Camarin and Almar in Caloocan; Parañaque; Marikina; Pasig City; Bicutan in Taguig; Manila, Alabang, Muntinlupa and San Juan.

Simultaneous protests will also be held in Iloilo, Panay, Bacolod, Davao, Southern Tagalog, Bicol, Baguio City and Mindanao according to Valbuena. Up to 13,000 drivers, operators and commuters will be marching to Mendiola.

"Instead of being fair to many poor jeepney drivers and operators, the President, outright, rejected the Senate's call. He is very unfair to many of us who also voted for him when he ran and won the presidency," the group said.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Vice President (OVP) said that it will offer a free ride bus to aid commuters who will be affected by the three-day transport strike on Wednesday. Bus route will be offered in Metro Manila, Cebu City, Bacolod City, and Davao City. 

President Bongbong Marcos already stated that, “Eighty percent have already consolidated, so how can it be that the 20 percent will decide the fate of the 100 percent? We should listen to the majority and the majority says we should continue.”

Source: ABS-CBN News

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