Authorities say Metro Manila transport strike fizzled out

September 30, 2019

Authorities said they defused Monday's strike by jeepneys and UV Express as they provided free rides for people going to work.

Several cities in Metro Manila also announced as early as Sunday that classes will not be held.

Jeepney operators are protesting against the government's modernization program, claiming that new environmental friendly units to replace their units were too expensive.

The government gave transport operators until June 2020 to comply with the modernization drive but transport groups claim these new units cost P 2 million. The government says these cost around P1.2 million.

Land Transportation and Franchise Regulatory Board ( LTFRB) chairman Martin Delgra called the protesters '' a noisy few'' in an interview with CNN Philippines.

Celine Pialogo, spokesperson of the Metro Manila Development Authority ( MMDA) told CNN Philippines that '' the government will never allow them ( strikers) to be successful.''

He said 18,000 units of different transport modes that have complied with the modernization drive.

The Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations said 70,000 jeepneys and UV Express units joined the strike.  DMS