Transportation group Manibela said it plans to stage a week-long strike starting March 6 to protest the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board’s (LTFRB) recent memorandum circular mandating the total phaseout of the traditional jeepneys on June 30.
“Sa pagsiil sa aming karapatan sa aming buhay, ang ipapantapat po namin dito, sa taning na binigay sa amin, sa taning na makapaghanapbuhay, isang linggong tigil pasada,” said Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena during a press conference.
“Sa March 6 magsisimula ito kung hindi ito babawiin ng LTFRB, isang linggong tigil pasada po nationwide lalong lalo na po dito sa NCR,” he added.
Valbuena said the LTFRB must cancel the circular and extend the franchise of traditional jeepneys to at least another five years.
The franchise for traditional jeepneys was previously set to expire by the end of March in the country, except for Metro Manila which was set until the end of April according to the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.
— Ronald Espartinez