Palace may suspend classes for rest of week if transport strike continues

March 19, 2018

Malacanang is mulling to suspend classes in Metro Manila for the rest of the week if transport strike continues.

"If and when Piston (Transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide) pushes through with its threat to continue its nationwide strike, despite its unsuccessful staging today, we will call for a class suspension in Metro Manila starting tomorrow, March 20 until Friday, March 23," said Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in a statement on Monday.

While some schools have announced the class suspension early Monday morning, Roque later in the afternoon said classes at all levels in Metro Manila have been suspended beginning 2 p.m.

He said it would be up to other local government units (LGUs) if they would also suspend classes if Piston would hold a nationwide strike this week.

"We leave it to the sound discretion of their LGU heads to suspend classes in their respective areas," he said.

Roque said the Palace appeals for patience and understanding, especially those  commuters who were duly inconvenienced by the strike.

"We, however, remain committed to modernize our public utility vehicles.   We see this as one of the long-term solutions to decongest our streets with dilapidated and smoke-belching jeepneys," he said.

Piston has been opposing the phaseout of jeepneys, which are at least 15 years old. Celerina Monte/DMS