THE transportation strike staged by jeepney operators and drivers against the government’s modernization program failed to paralyze Metro Manila and other urban centers in the country with commuters complaining of distasteful incidents during the strike.
“In general, the strike failed despite the harassment, intimidation and force utilized by the hardliners against those who just wanted to earn their living driving their jeeps,” Metro Manila Development Authority acting chairman Thomas Orbos said.
“It failed because it was based on deception by their leaders,” Orbos said, noting that transport group leaders were allegedly imposing P1,000 fines on drivers who did not want to join the strike and preferred to ply their routes as usual.
“We did ocular inspections in areas where there were reports of disruption and had dialogue with several groups who joined the strike,” he said.
“Apparently there were a lot of misrepresentations made by their leaders which were clarified. These members vowed not to join future strikes and participate in dialogue with the government,” Orbos added.
Officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board criticized some transport group leaders who allegedly demanded P1,000 from drivers who did not want to join the protest.
“We received information that you are preventing other operators from plying their routes, especially in the Bulacan area,” LTFRB board member Aileen Lourdes Lizada said over ABS-CBN “Umagang Kay Ganda” program.
“They are imposing a P1,000 find on drivers who want to ply their routes. Please don’t do that,” Lizada said.
But Stop and Go Coalition president Jun Magno denied this. “There is no truth to this. This is 100 percent lie.”
The strike was staged to protest government plans to phase out jeepneys more than 15 years old and require jeepney operators to have a minimum capital of P7 million and 10 minimum units for each franchise.
To address operators’ and drivers’ concern of undue economic burden from having to purchase brand new jeepney units, the government would allow them to apply for loans with the Development Bank of the Philippines.
But thousands of commuters were still affected by the transport strike, particularly in the cities of Marikina and Pasig in the eastern metro; Commonwealth Avenue, Tandang Sora, Mindanao Avenue, and the district of Fairview, all in Quezon City; Taft Avenue, España, Quezon Boulevard, Quiapo, Recto and Sta. Cruz, all in Manila, and Monumento and Grace Park in Caloocan City.
“Yes, we were affected by this transport strike, most especially my daughter, a grade nine pupil. On my part, I walked all the way from the MRT station of Buendia Avenue to our office here in Makati,” said graphic artist Haidee de Guzman. “What’s happening to our country, is this change?
Commuters in nearby provinces of Laguna, Bulacan and Cavite were also stranded forcing them to walk or find other mode of transportation like tricycles to get to their offices.
In Cabuyao City, tricycle drivers made opportunities demanding passengers P20 instead of the P9 minimum fare for tricycle.
In Taguig City, the local government ordered the suspension of classes in all levels, both private and public.
Other local government units did the same and made the announcement a day before the strike.