Manibela announces two-day nationwide transport strike

MANILA, July 22 ------ Transport group Manibela announced that it will hold a two-day nationwide transport strike on July 22 and 23, to protest the series of fuel price hikes and the government's failure to implement a fare increase for public utility jeepneys.

The group said at least 100,000 public utility vehicles (PUVs) from various transport sectors are expected to join the strike. According to Manibela president Mar Valbuena, their drivers will stop operating at 5 a.m., while a strike center will be set up at Philcoa in Quezon City beginning at 7 a.m.

The group also plans to march to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to file a petition seeking a P2 increase in the minimum jeepney fare. "Hindi po sasapat ito, para lang po ito makasurvive kami kasi nga po may maintenance cost din po kami na napakalaki. Kaya ito po ang hinihiling namin sa kanila. Halos wala na pong kita. Yung kita po namin, napupunta pa po sa maintenance ng aming sasakyan," Valbuena said. "Mabigat man sa kalooban namin na kami ay magkaroon ng transport strike, parang ang ginagawa na lang ng ating pamahalaan, kapag lumamig ang isyu, saka nila hinahayaan ang oil companies na magpatupad ng panibagong presyo ng mga produktong petrolyo," he added.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com