AFTERNOON classes in some colleges and universities in Metro Manila were suspended on Monday because of a transport strike to protest the reported phaseout of old passenger jeepneys.
The city governments of Manila and Malabon announced the suspension of classes in all levels in both public and private schools at noon due to the nationwide strike led by an organization of jeepney drivers.
The transport strike was expected to end by 7 p.m. on Monday.
The jeepney drivers struck even as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board approved a provisional one-peso increase in jeepney fares in Metro Manila, Central Luzon and Southern Tagalog.
The agency said the minimum jeepney fare will increase to P8 from P7 15 days after the publication of its order approving the increase.
The women’s group Gabriela slammed the increase and said that would only add to the suffering of poor workers and students.
The colleges and universities that suspended afternoon classes were the University of Santo Tomas, the De La Salle University campuses in Makati City, Taft Avenue and Taguig City and the College of St. Benilde.
Colegio de San Juan de Letran, Far Eastern University Manila, Adamson University, University of the Philippines Manila and National University also suspended classes in the afternoon.
Metro Manila Development Authority acting chairman Thomas Orbos said the areas affected most by the strike were Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela and parts of Quezon City.
“The secondary roads were most affected but not all [jeepney drivers] participated in the strike while some were prevented by their fellow drivers,” Orbos said.
The MMDA lifted the number-coding scheme on Monday but only for public utility vehicles.
Orbos said the MMDA and the Transport Department deployed buses and government trucks to help stranded passengers.
Other government agencies dispatched 85 vehicles, 50 motorcycles and two vessels to provide free transportation to stranded passengers in Metro Manila.
Orbos earlier called on jeepney operators and drivers to have a dialogue with the government to raise their concerns in connection with the jeepney modernization program, saying the program will not lead to the cessation of jeepney operations in the country.
Under the modernization program, the Transport Department will impose a 15-year age limit on public utility jeepneys to reduce carbon emission. With PNA
