Class suspension unnecessary – MMDA

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Monday it would not recommend the suspension of classes despite transport group Manibela's planned transport strike on Tuesday.

«We are ready. We will make sure to minimize the inconvenience to the passengers. Rallies happen often; we are already used to it,» MMDA chairman Romando Artes said at a briefing in Malacañang.

Manibela over the weekend announced it would stage another protest to demand a halt to the implementation of the government's Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), claiming that around 10,000 to 15,000 jeepney drivers and operators will participate in the strike.

Artes assured commuters there would be enough augmentation forces from the MMDA to be pre-prepositioned in strategic routes and that the agency would monitor the situation around Metro Manila as early as 5 a.m.

«In case there is a disruption in the public transportation system, we will augment; we are ready. We will coordinate with groups and drivers not joining the protest so that our 'libreng sakay' effort won't deprive them of their day's earnings, the official said.

»We are used to responding to protests because of the repeated rallies. We are ready to do that again. Maybe you observed in the previous rallies that there were minimal complaints because we have responded properly [along with the other agencies]," he added.

Mandaluyong City said it is ready to assist motorists and passengers who may be affected by the transport strike.

The city will deploy vehicles to ferry stranded passengers, Jimmy Isidro, chief of staff of Mayor Benjamin Abalos Sr., said.

With Francis Earl Cueto