TRANSPORT group Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (Manibela) yesterday threatened to hold a three-day transport strike starting March 24.
Mar Valbuena, Manibela chairman, said the strike aims to force Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon to dismiss all regional directors and other officers of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) over inconsistent numbers related to public utility vehicles (PUVs) — jeep, bus and UV express — that have consolidated as part of the country’s public transport modernization program (PTMP).
Dizon’s office in a statement said it is working to have a dialogue with the transport groups as soon as possible.
Valbuena, in a briefing posted on Manibela’s Facebook account, Facebook, noted Dizon’s own pronouncement that only 43 percent of the consolidation figures were approved by the LTFRB, allegedly belying the LTFRB’s claim that 86 percent of PUV operators and drivers have already consolidated for the PTMP.
Valbuena said that because the LTFRB claimed that 86 percent have consolidated, many provisional authorities for PUVs were no longer renewed since last year, resulting in drivers and operators getting fined between P2,000 and 10,000 for their violations.
Manibela claims to have 50,000 member drivers and operators.
Dizon’s office said he has instructed Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Non-Infrastructure Dioscoro Reyes to conduct a dialogue with the concerned transport groups as soon as possible.
“The Department hopes that instead of a transport strike, we sit down for a dialogue to work together to keep commuters safe and comfortable while ensuring that the welfare of our drivers and operators are protected,” the statement added.
The department also said that it is preparing contingency measures to ensure that commuters will not be affected by the strike.
