The operation of public utility vehicles (PUV) in the National Capital Region (NCR) has normalized although isolated presence of rallyists were observed in some parts of the metropolis, the Inter-Agency Task Force on Tigil Pasada reported on Tuesday.
Routes provided with Libreng Sakay by the task force on Monday, March 6, are now under normal operation and there were no reports of stranded passengers.
According to the task force’s assessment, protesters were monitored at the Heritage in Baclaran, Old Terminal in Alabang, Monumento in Caloocan City and Catmon/St. Francis St. in Malabon.
The Metro Manila local government units (LGUs) and different government agencies have successfully assisted commuters affected by Monday’s transport group strike, which authorities said, failed to cause major disruption in the metropolis’ public transportation.
In his report Monday to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes said combined efforts of the LGUs and national government agencies served a total of 4,794 passengers from the 130 vehicles mobilized for the effort.
The agencies and LGUs serving the most number of passengers were the MMDA, the City of Manila and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).
Artes said in his report that as of March 6, there were no reported incidents requiring emergency preparedness and asset deployment.
Before Monday’s transport group strike, the government crafted contingencies to minimize the impact of the disturbance to the commuting public.
Among those involved in the preparations were the MMDA, the Office of the Executive Secretary, OCD-NCR, Department of Transportation (DOTr), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Education, National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), and the Joint Task Force-National Capital Region (JTF-NCR).
Transport group Manibela has initiated a weeklong strike in Metro Manila from March 6 to 12, opposing the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr earlier said the government’s PUVMP is necessary but its implementation needs more discussions among its stakeholders, particularly jeepney drivers’ groups.
The President said while he sees the need to modernize public utility vehicles, proper program implementation is necessary. (PND)
