Transport group Manibela chairperson Mar Valbuena said the group’s three-day transport strike will push through from December 9 to 11, emphasizing that the protest will continue if authorities persist with vague assurances while the system remains “corrupt and abusive.”
In a media release on Sunday, December 7, Valbuena said that the harassment experienced by drivers has been relentless, noting that they have been subjected to’ sudden suspensions of their licenses, arbitrary demerit points and fines that feel punitive rather than corrective’.
“Matagal na naming idinadaing ang panggigipit (We have long been speaking out against this oppression),” he said.
Valbuena also rejected the administration’s suggestion that its attention to transportation issues was a form of “pamasko” (Christmas gift), insisting that drivers are not asking for gifts but for concrete reforms.
He added that if the government wants to ensure a peaceful holiday season, it must address the problems instead of making drivers bear the burden.
“Kung gusto niyong maging masaya ang Pasko, ayusin ninyo ang problema, huwag kaming gawing biktima (If you want a happy Christmas, fix the problems; don’t make us the victims),” he added.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary Claire Castro earlier urged the transport group to reconsider its strike plans and take into account the heavy commuter traffic during the holiday rush.
