DOTr: PUVs enough despite strikes, holiday break

Metro Manila, December 19 ------ The transportation system is enough to cater to Filipinos this holiday season despite "some" transport strikes happening in different parts of the country, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said. "Itong Christmas season talagang maraming pasahero. Kaya ang mga jeepney operator kahit may strike, marami pa din ang nag-o-operate. Mga buses natin, TNVS (Transport Network Vehicle Service), motorcycle taxi, meron din tayong MRT (Metro Rail Transit), LRT (Light Rail Transit)," Bautista said in an interview. “Sa tingin ko, sapat ang mga vehicles na nag-o-operate dito sa Metro Manila,” he added. 

According to Bautista, the protests against the government’s Dec. 31 deadline for the consolidation of public utility vehicles (PUVs) did not paralyze public transportation, especially in Metro Manila, as only a number of operators and drivers joined the transport strike. "Wala namang masyadong epekto ang strike. Some of them may hawak na placards pero walang masyadong naapektuhan na pasahero...Konti lang nag-strike," he said. 

Last Friday, transport regulators issued a memorandum circular revoking on Jan. 1 the permits of those who will fail to comply with franchise consolidation, officially rejecting calls from transport groups against the consolidation deadline. The PUV consolidation deadline still stands as “70% of operators nationwide have already supported the plan,” Bautista added. 

Transport groups Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide's (PISTON) and Manibela continued its strikes on Monday in parts of Metro Manila, Bulacan, and Pampanga. They said that they will be extending their strikes for two weeks. The Philippine National Police (PNP) said in a separate statement Monday that the nationwide strike of transport group Manibela is "relatively peaceful" so far. PNP spokesperson Col. Jean Fajardo said no major untoward incident has been recorded. “Umaasa po tayo sa kabuuan ng kanilang protest rally ay wala naman po tayong ma-e-encounter na any major problems. 'Yun po 'yung pinagpapasalamat natin sa kanila dahil sumunod sila sa naging usapan natin na magiging mapayapa naman po 'yung gagawin nilang protesta,” Fajardo said. 

Last week, different trade unions from international countries like Australia and the United Kingdom expressed their support for the local transport groups. 

Source: cnnphilippines.com