PISTON: Transport strike paralyzes some routes
MANILA — A transport group leading the ongoing weeklong strike reported Monday morning that some routes in Metro Manila have been paralyzed, as Malacañang sought to downplay the protest's impact as it said that “there is no disruption except in a handful of routes” in the region.
Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide reported that as of 10 a.m., no jeepneys and UV Express services are plying along some routes including Navotas to Divisoria, Recto, Monumento, Malabon, Pateros-Pasig and Zapote-Paliparan, while 99.9% are not servicing the E. Rodriguez (Cubao-Quiapo, Kalaw-Project 2-3) route.
Majority of jeepneys and UV Express services are not making trips along these routes, according to PISTON:
• Baclaran Metrobank (90%)
• Novaliches-Blumentritt (80%)
• Pasay (90%)
• Palapala-Imus (70%)
• Los Baños-Calamba (95%)
• Calamba (80%)
• Cabuyao (95%)
• Antipolo and Junction Crossing (90%)
• Cogeo-Cubao (80%)
But Joel Bolano, technical division head of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, said only 10% of the routes in Metro Manila were affected by the strike, and free rides provided by the government supposedly addressed this.
Aside from Metro Manila, only Calabarzon is experiencing some disruption in transportation services while normal operations continue in the rest of the country, Bolano said.
While saying that there are normal operations of public utility vehicles nationwide, Malacañang also said that the government has provided free rides for commuters affected by the strike.