No stranded commuters so far amid transport strike – LTFRB

Manila: The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on Monday said no commuter was seen stranded so far at the start of the two-day transport strike by transport groups Piston and Manibela. In a Palace press briefing, LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz III said few public jeepney drivers and operators joined the transport protest. 'Ikinagagalak ko pong sabihin sa inyo na sa ngayon po ay wala pong na-stranded na pasahero in all these spots na minu-monitor po namin (I am happy to report to you all that so far, there are no stranded passengers in all the spots that we are monitoring),' Guadiz said. 'Unang-una po, kakaunti lang po iyong mga sumama doon sa transport strike; pangalawa, mayroon po kaming nakahandang libreng-sakay; and then pangatlo po, nandoon po ang PNP to maintain peace and order para doon sa mga dyip na para sa mga operators na namimilit po na sumama iyong mga kasamahan nila sa strike (First of all, there were only a few of you who joined the transport strike; second, we have a fr ee-rider ready; and then thirdly, the Philippine National Police is there to maintain peace and order for those jeep operators who insist that their colleagues join the strike),' he added. The LTFRB chief said photos circulating on social media showing a throng of commuters waiting for public transport were regular situations on a Monday morning. The two transport groups are protesting the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) and are calling for the renewal of franchises and registrations for all public utility vehicle (PUV) operators, including those who choose not to consolidate in with the modernization program. Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the call of Piston and Manilbela to scrap the program is 'non-negotiable.' 'We cannot turn our back on the vast majority of transport groups that understand and subscribe to the public transport modernization program,' Bautista said. According to the Department of Transportation, 87 percent of PUVs have already consolidated their franchises . The consolidation requires PUV operators to form cooperatives or corporations to access business financing in acquiring modern jeepney units. It is part of the government's PUV modernization program that started in 2017, then known as the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. Failure to meet the consolidation deadline will result in the revocation of franchises of non-compliant operators, essentially barring them from operating. 94 QC bus deployed Despite no reports of stranded commuters in most parts of the metropolis, the Quezon City government deployed 94 'Q City' bus to give free rides to those who may be affected. The Quezon City Police District and the Traffic and Transport Management Department are also on standby to guide motorists and passengers. 'Nakahanda rin ang e-trikes, QC-owned vehicles, at barangay vehicles ng lungsod para alalayan ang mga commuter (E-trikes, QC-owned vehicles and barangay vehicles are also ready to assist commuters),' the city government posted on social medi a. The QC buses were deployed to eight major routes: QC Hall to Cubao; QC Hall to Litex Road/IBP Road; Mabuhay Rotonda to Aurora Boulevard-Katipunan Avenue; QC Hall to General Luis Street, Valenzuela-Caloocan; QC Hall to Mindanao Avenue via Visayas Avenue; QC Hall to Gilmore Avenue; QC Hall to C5 Road/ Ortigas Avenue Extension; and QC Hall to Muñoz. OVP aid The Office of the Vice President (OVP) likewise provided 'Libreng Sakay' (free rides) in eight routes in Metro Manila, Cavite, Cebu, Bacolod and Davao. For Metro Manila, two OVP buses each were dispatched for the Quiapo, Manila to Commonwealth, Quezon City route; and Parañaque Integrated Exchange Terminal to Monumento, Caloocan via the EDSA bus carousel, and vice versa. The remaining four were deployed to Naic in Cavite, Cebu, Bacolod, and Davao. Source: Philippines News agency