Transport protest vs PUVMP set Tuesday

MANILA, Philippines — Manibela will hold another protest tomorrow amid the looming threat of unconsolidated public utility jeepneys (PUJs) being allowed to operate only until Jan. 31.

At a forum yesterday, Manibela president Mar Valbuena announced the Jan. 16 transport “strike,” which Manibela quickly clarified on their Facebook page would be a “protest,” alongside fellow transport group PISTON and other sector groups.

“We will march from University of the Philippines (UP Diliman), España, up to Mendiola this Tuesday. This (transport protest) will be nationwide. After a series of meetings in the past days, we are prepared for the protest action. The number (of protesters) will be tripled compared to the Dec. 29 (2023) protest as many already expressed sympathy for the scheduled protest,” Valbuena said in Filipino.

He noted that at least 7,000 drivers and operators joined the Dec. 29 protest action.

“We expect at least 10,000 to 15,000 drivers in Metro Manila alone (to join the transport protest),” Valbuena said. He added that those who joined the consolidation will also join the protest action.

Valbuena said that drivers are not cowed by the threat of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) that starting Feb. 1, it will start the crackdown on unconsolidated PUJs.

“We are not afraid (of the crackdown) as every day, drivers are subjected to violations, including a fine of P5,000 for failure to carry with them the memorandum circular,” he noted.

Valbuena called on the House of Representatives to extend the franchise of PUJs to five years instead of the extension of consolidation.

“We are appealing to the House of Representatives, to our Speaker, instead of approving the extension of the consolidation, what should be extended is our franchise, returning the five years validity of our franchise, as the provisional authority given to us is illegal,” he said.

For his part, former Bayan Muna representative Neri Colmenares said that the Office of the Solicitor General already filed an answer, after the Supreme Court (SC) ordered the government to reply after a petition was filed questioning the legality of the consolidation.

“The SolGen already