Malacañang called on the transport group Manibela to engage in dialogue with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) instead of continuing the transport strike that inconvenienced commuters.
“We have free rides that we can provide. And our only request, as well as Secretary Vince Dizon’s request, is that the leadership of Manibela would please communicate with us first,” Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary Claire Castro said on Monday.
She was referring to the transport strike organized to protest the Public Transportation Modernization Program (PTMP). She emphasized that the ongoing strike primarily affects innocent commuters.
“Let’s remember, it’s not just the government that can have an impact but also the commuters themselves. The commuters are innocent and are just caught in the middle,” Castro added.
To mitigate the effects of the strike, Castro said Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has announced the implementation of free rides to assist affected passengers.
When asked about the government’s initial assessment of the strike’s impact, Castro said there have been no significant disruptions reported so far.
“As of now, our commuters are not yet affected, especially since our government is really prepared,” she said.
Regarding the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program, which has reached only 43% consolidation, Castro said President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. remains committed to a balanced approach.
“We will study that now, if it’s 43%, and we will encourage everything that can happen to be in favor of the commuters, also in favor of the jeepney operators and drivers. We should all have a win-win solution,” Castro said.
The PTMP seeks to replace traditional jeepneys with safer and more environmentally friendly vehicles.