MANIBELA, PISTON to stage transport protest on Jan. 16

A transport protest will take place on Tuesday, transport group MANIBELA announced on Sunday.

The protest will begin at the University of the Philippines–Diliman and head to Mendiola at 9 a.m.

The protest will end at the Supreme Court, where the transport groups will launch a short program.

According to MANIBELA, the goal of the protest was to persuade President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to reinstate the revoked franchises of drivers and operators who were unable to consolidate.

“Protest po ito ma’am, kasama po ang MANIBELA at PISTON  upang ipanawagan sa ating Pangulo na itong mga deadline na ito ay itigil at ibalik yung ating validity na five years po na prangkisa na nagpapahirap po sa atin ngayon na kaliwat kanang hulihan,” said MANIBELA Chairman Mar Valbuena in a 24 Oras weekend report by Katrina Son on Sunday.

An estimated 15,000 participants would take part in the rally.

In a separate announcement, MANIBELA clarified that the protest was not another transport strike.

“Transport protest po sa January 16 at hindi po transport strike ang ating gagawin. MANIBELA at PISTON kasama ang ibat-ibang sector,” Manibela said.

A total of 1,500 individuals and about 300 public utility vehicles had gathered by 2:19 p.m. during the December 28 transport rally.

During the rally, several protestors headed to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) central office in Quezon City to throw red paint over the gate and on images of LTFRB officials and President Marcos.

Other protests were organized by different branches of other transport groups in other regions.

Meanwhile, consolidated drivers are awaiting the release of special permits that would allow them to service to routes that have no active cooperatives.

The Office of Transportation Cooperatives reminded cooperatives that they cannot enforce or mandate a specific brand of modern jeepney for their members.

"I-report sa amin because hindi maganda po iyon at bawal po 'yon. Walang mag-iimpluwensya, walang makikialam walang magpe-pressure sa pagbili kung anong brand, karapatan 'yan nila," said Office of Transportation Cooperatives Chairman Andry Ortega.

In a December 25 Memorandum, the LTFRB said that individual operators in routes without a consolidated transport service entity (TSE) may be allowed to operate until January 31.

Other consolidated TSEs may secure special three-month permits to operate past January 31 on routes without consolidated TSEs. — DVM, GMA Integrated News