Palace mulls full-week suspension of classes over jeepney strike

Malacañang is looking into suspending classes in Metro Manila at all levels until Friday, March 23, if the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) will continue with its threat to hold a nationwide strike against the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Prior to this, the Palace has suspended yesterday’s classes in Metro Manila in all levels around 2 p.m. due to the “unsuccessful” transport strike.

“If and when PISTON pushes through with its threat to continue its nationwide strike despite its unsuccessful staging today (sic), we will call for a class suspension in Metro Manila starting tomorrow, March 20 until Friday, March 23,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said in a statement.

Roque said the Palace leaves to the discretion of other local government units (LGUs) whether or not to suspend classes in their respective areas.

The Palace official, however, asked the riding public affected by the nationwide strike for understanding.

“We appeal for patience and understanding, especially those commuters who were duly inconvenienced by the strike,” Roque said.

Militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) has backed the No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition’s (NTJPC’s) metrowide transport strike to protest the government’s “Tanggal-bulok, Tanggal-usok” campaign.

The group said public utility jeepney (PUJ) drivers and operators are correct in calling for a stop to this new anti-poor jeepney scheme.

“We condemn the anti-poor Duterte regime for pushing through with its massacre of the livelihood of hundreds of thousands of jeepney drivers and operators, all to promote the agenda of big businesses that want to take monopoly control over the country’s public transportation,” said KMU chairperson Elmer “Ka Bong” Labog. (With a report from Chito A. Chavez)