From Inquirer

By Noriko Yamamoto

The Philippine National Police (PNP) announced on Monday, December 8, that they have set contingency measures for the three-day transport strike of the transport group Manibela from Tuesday, December 9, to Thursday, December 11.

“Our personnel will be on the ground not only to secure the protest action but also conduct assessment on areas that need mobility assets for our kababayan that may be stranded,” Acting PNP chief Lt. Gen. Jose Melencio Nartatez Jr. stated.

Nartatez also mentioned that with police units stationed across the country to manage security and provide mobility, the PNP aims to ensure a peaceful and safe protest. 

Police units have been deployed in key transport terminals, major roads, and affected routes to maintain public safety throughout the strike.

Moreover, police vehicles will remain on standby to aid commuters who may experience disruptions or reduced transport services.

With Manibela’s notice that the strike may be prolonged, Nartatez assured the public that the PNP will maintain the necessary security and support, noting that previous strikes remained peaceful due to effective coordination with authorities.

Manibela Declares Strike

Manibela declared the three-day strike on Sunday, December 8, while criticizing the government for what it described as unclear assurances regarding the ongoing struggles faced by jeepney drivers.

“For more than a year, drivers have been subjected to sudden suspensions of their licenses, arbitrary demerit points (as if picked up on the streets) and fines that feel punitive rather than corrective,” the organization said in a statement.

The group added that the “entrenched culture of payola (bribery) … continues to flourish, creating an environment where ordinary drivers are forced to navigate corruption just to survive each day.” 

It further explained that thousands of jeepney drivers are unable to work due to agency delays in permits and franchise renewals.

The organization likewise took issue with Palace press officer Claire Castro for portraying the administration’s focus on the matter as a form of a “pamasko” or holiday favor, as Castro previously urged Manibela to work with the government for the benefit of the commuters, especially during the Christmas season.

With this, Manibela chairperson Mar Valbuena stressed that transport strikes are not carried out based on the impulses of drivers and operators, but because these serve as the “final course of action taken by workers who have been consistently ignored.” 

Particularly, agencies such as the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), Department of Transportation (DOTR), and the Land Transportation office (LTO) were cited.

Valbuena elaborated, “Had the LTFRB, DOTr, and LTO addressed these long-standing issues early on, no strike would be necessary, and no passenger would be caught in the fallout.”

Ultimately, Manibela emphasized that their organization only has one simple request — the prompt and just renewal of permits that legally register and authorize drivers to continue working.