The Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) has concluded its second day of a nationwide transport strike, which, despite its intent to disrupt public transportation operations, saw little impact on the metropolis. Prompt responses from national and local government units ensured the immediate deployment of free rides along affected routes.
In a parallel development, the Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers (MANIBELA) declared during a press briefing on Tuesday, November 21, 2023, that it is staging its mass action starting Wednesday (22 Nov 2023). It will allegedly be participated in by 200,000 drivers and operators nationwide.
Both transport groups adamantly oppose the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), particularly the scheduled phase-out of traditional jeepneys on December 31, 2023, saying all of them will be declared “colorum” if they won’t toe the line after the last day of 2023, and by then they won’t be able to ply their routes anymore.
(Benjamin Cuaresma/ai/mnm)