The first day of the week-long transport strike cannot be considered successful due to the lack of support from some transportation groups, the Inter-Agency Monitoring Team said on Monday, March 6.
According to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Acting Chairperson Romando Artes, the government’s monitoring efforts are in fact more successful than the staged protest.
“Kakaunti po ang sumama sa protests. Hindi po naparalisa ‘yung transportasyon at kung mayroon man pailan-ilan na [na]ipon na mga pasahero, di naman natatawag natin na stranded ‘yung medyo natagalan ang pag-iikot ng transportation,” Artes said.
The Inter-Agency Monitoring Team has so far allocated 1,680 vehicles to augment the potential lack of supply of public vehicles during the planned week-long transport strike of some transport groups, but only 88 units or 5% of them were utilized on the first day.
Of this, around 3,500 individuals benefited from “libreng sakay” or free rides provided by various government agencies.
The MMDA decided to resume the number coding scheme on Tuesday, March 6, to reduce traffic congestion caused by the slow turnaround time of public vehicles.
“Medyo sumikip ‘yung daloy ng trapiko. ‘Yun din ‘yung dahilan siguro kung bakit medyo mabagal ‘yung turnaround time ng ating pampublikong transportasyon kaya ang pamunuan ng MMDA ay nag-decide na hindi na po palawakin ‘yung number coding scheme suspension. [Ang] ating coding ay mayroon na po ulit bukas,” Artes said.
Meanwhile, despite reports of intimidation and harassment to some jeepney drivers who did not join the protest, the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO) said the first day of the transport strike was “generally peaceful.”
“So far, we have recorded walang major incidents na nangyari. ‘Yung mga crime related sa activity na ‘to, mga minor incidents lang ang nangyari gaya sa QC [Quezon City] na [na]-confirm natin may mga naglalagay doon. May nagtapon doon ng mga pako, mga nails, pero wala namang nasaktan. Na-discover lang natin ‘yun sa mga dadaanan ng mga pampasaherong sasakyan,” NCRPO PCol. Roman Arugay said.
DOTr calls for dialogue with transport groups
The Department of Transportation (DOTr) extended its appreciation to jeepney operators and drivers who did not participate in the transportation strike, while protesters were invited to engage in a dialogue with the government.
“Nais naming ulitin na walang phase out na itinutulak ang LTFRB. Sa MC [Memorandum Circular] 23-13 ay ‘yung end of consolidation period na sinasabi lamang na bawat ruta [ay] dapat may organized entity na tatakbo upang maisaayos ‘yung operational requirements, mapataas ‘yung level of service at katumbas nito ay tataas ang kita ng ating mga drivers at operators [dahil] magiging swelduhan sila at magkakaroon ng mandated benefits,” DOTr Undersecretary for Road Transport and Infrastructure Mark Steven Pastor said. Report from Ryan Lesigues/KC– cf
