By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — Transport group Manibela will hold a transport strike from August 14 to 16, following President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s rejection of the Senate’s call to temporarily suspend the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Manibela head Mar Valbuena stated on Thursday, August 8, 2024, that they will continue the strike if Malacañang does not provide clear instructions regarding the PUVMP.

“We are not making threats. If there is no clear directive from Malacañang on how to handle the remaining minority by next Wednesday, we will proceed with the strike,” Valbuena said.

On Wednesday, Marcos rejected the Senate’s proposal to suspend the PUVMP, citing that it has already been postponed several times.

The senators had requested the suspension of the PUVMP, which aims to replace traditional jeepneys with safer, more efficient, and eco-friendly public vehicles.

Twenty-two out of the 23 senators signed the resolution calling on the government to suspend the implementation of the program.

Senate President Francis Escudero, Majority Leader Francis Tolentino, Minority Leader Koko Pimentel, Pro Tempore Jinggoy Estrada, and Senators Raffy Tulfo, Nancy Binay, Alan Peter Cayetano, Pia Cayetano, Ronald dela Rosa, JV Ejercito, Sherwin Gatchalian, Bong Go, Lito Lapid, Loren Legarda, Imee Marcos, Robinhood Padilla, Grace Poe, Bong Revilla, Joel Villanueva, Cynthia Villar, Mark Villar, and Juan Miguel Zubiri signed the resolution.

ia/mnm

By Liezelle Soriano

MANILA — Transportation group Manibela has scheduled a transport protest on January 16, opposing the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

Manibela president Mar Valbuena anticipates the participation of around 10,000 to 15,000 individuals from various sectors in the protest.

The event is set to commence at 9 a.m. from the University of the Philippines-Diliman, heading towards Mendiola, the group announced. Simultaneous protests are also planned in different provinces.

The primary objective of the modernization program includes replacing jeepneys that are 15 years or older with cleaner, newer models and consolidating drivers and operators into cooperatives or corporations.

(el Amigo/MNM)

By Junex Doronio & Liezelle Soriano

CLAIMING THAT SOME CORRUPT INSIDERS in Malacañang don’t want to resolve the issues facing the transportation sector, the Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers (MANIBELA) on Sunday suddenly canceled its supposed meeting in Malacañang and vowed to push through with the planned transport strike on Monday, October 16.

MANIBELA president Mar Valbuena said he personally requested to cancel the meeting due to issues with certain “corrupt people” whom he did not identify.

“May mga taong ayaw maayos ito at baka mabuking ang kanilang mga kalokohan. Tsaka ko na sasabihin [kung sino sila], malapit na. Mga corrupt talaga ito,” he said when interviewed on Super Radyo dzBB.

The planned jeepney strike on Monday, October 16, is in protest against the “phasing out” of jeepneys and alleged corruption in the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

MANIBELA’s transport strike intends to hit about 600 routes throughout Luzon, with 150 jeepneys affected per route.

However, seven transport groups, including Pasang Masda and PISTON, have agreed with the government not to participate in the strike.

Valbuena claimed that their supposed Sunday meeting in Malacañang was “sabotaged”.

“‘Yun lang ang nabalitaan na may meeting, hinarang na. Sangkot siguro ‘to sa anomalya. Kilala ko sila, binanggit sa’kin. Pero hindi ko muna sasabihin… Ako na nag-request na mag-cancel kung ganoon ang isyu nila,” he said.

As this developed, some local government units (LGUs) and schools in Metro Manila have already announced Sunday the suspension of face-to-face classes on Monday due to the impending nationwide transtrike.

The list of LGUs:

Cabuyao, Laguna
Calamba, Laguna
Santa Rosa, Laguna
Pampanga

Universities and colleges

Adamson University
De La Salle University – Manila campus
Far Eastern University Manila and Makati campuses
FEU High School
National University – Manila: shift to synchronous learning
National University-Nazareth School
San Beda University – Rizal and Manila campuses: Integrated Basic Education Department (IBED) to shift to online classes
San Sebastian College – Recoletos Manila:
University of the East – Caloocan and Manila campuses
University of Santo Tomas

(ai/mnm)