Manibela dismayed as transportation issues not mentioned in Marcos' 2nd SONA

A transportation group on Monday expressed disappointment over President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s second State of the Nation Address (SONA) which did not make any mention of their woes despite their ongoing protest.

The Malayang Alyansa ng Bus Employees at Laborers (Manibela) started their three-day transportation strike against the PUV Modernization Program earlier, with several members staging protests at the University of the Philippines in Diliman, Quezon City.

The organization also conducted a motorcade and a caravan on Commonwealth Avenue.

“Sa lahat po ng nagtatanong ‘dismayado’ po tayo. Floating ang lahat at walang nabanggit na kahit anong programa pro-modern ka man o hindi,” said Manibela in a statement released on social media.

(To everyone asking, we’re disappointed. Everything he said was floating, and he did not mention any transportation program, whether it was pro-modernization or not.)

“Ganunpaman ipapaliwanag daw po sa atin dahil pag-uusapan pa ng gobyerno dahil malaki raw po ang problema bago tayo harapin,” the organization said.

(Still, the government said they will still discuss it because it's a challenge for them.)

According to Joseph Morong’s “24 Oras” report, Manibela is rallying against the jeepney phaseout and the alleged awarding of consolidated routes to favored politicians and corporations.

The transportation strike will also be conducted in other parts of the country including Pampanga, Bulacan, Iloilo, and Bacolod City.

“Gusto nating maramdaman, yung stress na ito, maibalik natin sa gobyerno, kung gaano kahirap yung pinaparanas nila sa atin,” said Valbuena.

(We want the government to feel the stress and difficulties that we're feeling because of the program.)

While it is not opposing the modernization program, the PUV Phaseout Coalition Panay said the government should carefully plan it before its implementation.

Meanwhile, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said Manibela’s protest was “unsuccessful” and he will leave it up to the group to decide whether to continue the three-day strike.

“Merong konti. Palagay namin ay hindi successful yung kanilang tigil pasada na ‘yan. Ang LTFRB naman ini-evaluate naman lahat ng application for franchises. ‘Yung sinasabi nila na phaseout, hindi naman,” said Bautista.

(There were some who joined the strike, but for us, it was unsuccessful. The LTFRB is evaluating the application for franchises. Their allegation of phaseout is not true.)

Jeepney drivers and operators are required to join or form cooperatives under the PUVMP, which aims to replace traditional jeepneys with vehicles powered by more environment-friendly fuels.

In March, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said the government would review the 2017 Omnibus Franchising Guidelines, which serve as the framework for the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board also extended the deadline for jeepney operators to form cooperatives to December 31, 2023.

Marcos Jr. declared the country’s state of the nation is “sound and improving” during the 2023 SONA. In his speech, he presented the administration’s feats, challenges, and plans for the economy, tourism, education, healthcare, and infrastructure sectors. —Sundy Locus/ VAL, GMA Integrated News