The planned two-day transport strike starting on Monday will not paralyze Metro Manila, an official of the Department of Transportation said yesterday.
“Those planning to rally or protest account for merely 5 percent of the entire transportation sector… Clearly they will not paralyze Metro Manila and most especially not the whole of the Philippines,” said DOTr Undersecretary for Roads Sector Andy Ortega.
Transport groups PISTON and Manibela on Thursday said they would hold a nationwide strike from April 15 to 16 amid the looming deadline for the consolidation of public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators by the end of the month.
President Marcos earlier announced there would be no more extension of the April 30 deadline for the application for consolidation of individual public utility vehicle (PUV) operators to form or join transportation cooperatives.
Ortega nearly 78 percent of PUV operators in the country have already complied with the consolidation requirement.
For his part, Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas president Orlando Marquez said 20 organizations, including LTOP, Pasang Masda, FEJODAP, Stop and Go Coalition, Federation of UV Express of the Philippines, and Taxi Operators Association of the Philippines will not join the transport strike.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Romando Artes said he ordered his men to prepare for the deployment of assets and vehicles from local government units and barangays as part of contingency measures during the strike.
“Libreng sakay vehicles will likewise be on standby and are ready to be dispatched to accommodate those who will be affected,” Artes said.