Group: Coordination with gov't ongoing to cushion impact of week-long transport strike

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 27) — A commuters group on Tuesday said it is working with the government to look for ways to ease the impact of the possible week-long strike of jeepneys and UV express units as they call for the scrapping of the mandatory consolidation of their franchises.

Speaking to CNN Philippines’ The Source, Elvira Medina, chairperson of the National Center for Commuters Safety and Protection, said she has been in touch with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to determine what actions will be implemented to mitigate the strike's effect on commuters.

“We have been talking of how the commuters themselves can help themselves and how other modes of transport can augment what could not be there,” she added.

Manibela Chairperson Mar Valbuena announced on Monday they are planning to stage a nationwide transport strike if authorities do not withdraw the Memorandum Circular No. 2023-013 that orders the mandatory consolidation until June 30.

Some of the measures they are considering are the granting of provisional authority and providing augmentation, Medina said.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority Acting Chairman Don Artes has said the agency will also provide additional transport units should the strike push through next week.

Valbuena said around 100,000 drivers and operators nationwide are expected to join.

Around eight million commuters in Metro Manila alone will be affected by the possible strike, Medina noted.

DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista has appealed to transport groups to first have a dialogue with the government to clarify issues.

While they are willing, Valbuena said they will only do so after the mandatory consolidation is scrapped.