The flow of traffic along Espana Boulevard and Quezon Avenue is now light to moderate following the dispersal of jeepney drivers, who staged a protest rally at the Welcome Rotonda.
“As of 3:21 p.m., the protest rally at Welcome Rotonda has been dispersed, and the area is now cleared from rallyists. Accordingly, España Welcome Rotonda West Bound is now passable to traffic,” the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) stated in its latest advisory Wednesday.
The MMDA stated that there was a normal traffic situation on all routes in the National Capital Region. It added that there were no reports of stranded commuters as local government units provided the “Libreng Sakay” in their respective areas.
A portion of Welcome Rotonda in Manila was closed for several hours due to the transport strike staged by the Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers (Manibela) against the government’s public transport modernization program (PTMP).
The protesters blocked traffic in the area as they began their three-day transport strike.
The MMDA sent traffic enforcers to manage traffic while the Philippine National Police deployed the anti-riot team.
Members of the Quezon City Police prevented the group from proceeding to Mendiola in Manila.
Manibela initiated the 3-day transport strike after President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. rejected a resolution from the Senate calling for PTMP’s suspension.
