Английская Википедия:2023 transport strikes in the Philippines

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The 2023 transport strikes in the Philippines are a series of strikes by operators of traditional public jeepneys and minivans held in various cities across the Philippines to protest against the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program. Three strikes were held in March, July (later cancelled), October and November 2023.

Strike organizers later revealed that the administration had agreed to delay the implementation of the program to December 31, 2023, and to use the intervening months to review all the aspects of the program implementation, taking the concerns of drivers and operators into account.

Background

Шаблон:Further Organizers of the strike are protesting against the Philippine government's Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program, which intends to phase out dilapidated and old or traditional jeepneys and utility vans meant for public transport. Traditional jeepneys are a legacy of World War II, with designs not changing much apart from the addition of secondhand engines from Japanese manufacturers. There was no mandatory retirement age for commercial vehicles in the Philippines.

The modernization program was launched in 2017 and is mainly implemented by the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB). It is aimed to replace public utility vehicles (PUVs), including jeepneys and buses that are at least 15 years old with newer models that are more eco-friendly within the next three years. Though reportedly in practice, this covered all traditional jeepneys.

The strike organizers' main goal is to have the government increase the subsidy of Шаблон:Philippine peso to enable them to purchase new utility vehicles. The government also has urged operators to form cooperatives for them to have a better borrowing capacity but critics said that this is still insufficient. This proposal was made through LTFRB's memorandum circular 2023-013, which also imposes the suspension of provisional authority for operators who would fail to comply.

Participants

The strike is led by Manibela, a group of public transport group that claims to represent 40,000 drivers. They are aiming to halt the planned phaseout of PUVs originally set on June 30, 2023. They are joined by the United Transport Federation and Laban TNVS (under the No to PUV Phaseout Coalition), and are supported by commuter group PARA - Advocates for Inclusive Transport.

The LTFRB on their part says they are not pressured, claiming that 90 percent of transport groups support the modernization program. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) claims that eight groups will not participate: Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston), Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap), UV Express group, Association of Concerned Transport Organizations (Acto), Pasang Masda, Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP), Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Altodap), and Northern Mindanao Federation of Transport Service Cooperative (Nomfedtrasco). Piston later decided to join.

Файл:No To Jeepney Phaseout Mobilization March 6 2023 5.jpg

Mobilization at Katipunan Avenue, Quezon City.

Locations

• Bicol Region
• Calabarzon
• Central Luzon
• Metro Manila
• Cagayan de Oro

Goals

Organizers urged for the cancellation of LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2023-013, which mandates operators to join a cooperative before they could engage with the LTFRB for dialogue.

Strikes

March 6-7

The Bagong Alyansang Makabayan was allowed to organize protests at Mendiola, Manila in parallel and support of the transport strike by the Manila Police District.

Файл:Jeepneys on strike, Manila 2023 March.jpg

Jeepneys on strike, caravan to Mendiola.

The government has downplayed the impact of the strike. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority claims that the strike failed to paralyze commuters in Metro Manila. According to Piston, the majority of jeepneys and UV Express services along nine locales in Metro Manila and Calabarzon had ceased operations to participate in the strike.

Affected inter routes include: Шаблон:Div col

• Routes between the city of Antipolo and municipality of Taytay
• Routes between Cogeo in the city of Antipolo and Cubao in Quezon City
• Routes between Novaliches in Quezon City, and Blumentritt Road in Santa Cruz, Manila
• Routes between Pala-pala Road in Dasmariñas and the city of Imus
• Routes between the municipality of Los Baños and the city of Calamba

Affected intra routes include: Шаблон:Div col

• Routes within the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, particularly in Baclaran
• Routes within the city of Calamba
• Routes within the city of Cabuyao

Файл:No To Jeepney Phaseout Mobilization March 6 2023.jpg

Mobilization at Mendiola, Manila.

However, according to the LTFRB, only 10 percent of routes in Metro Manila and 5 percent of routes nationwide were affected by the strike, asserting that these gaps were addressed by the free rides provided by the government.

Although Manibela and Piston considered the first day of the strike as a success owing to the fact that a lot of would be commuters, including students who attended classes which were held online in anticipation of the protest action, decided to not go out to the streets Manibela and Piston continued their strike on March 7, vowing to continue until the modernization program is completely put to a halt.

July 24

Manibela was originally slated to hold a three-day strike from July 24 to 26, with the first day coinciding with the second State of the Nation Address of President Bongbong Marcos. However, in light of the heavy rains and Typhoon Doksuri (Egay), Manibela suspended the strike, citing the commuters' call for adequate transportation.

October 16

Manibela announced a nationwide transport strike beginning October 16. The group aims to urge the government to take action on the alleged corruption of the LTFRB. About 240,000 traditional jeepney operators are expected to join the strike. The duration of the strike is yet to be disclosed.

November 20–25

Since November 20, 2023, PISTON holds a 3-day transport trike set to end on November 22. However, Manibela also announced a 3-day nationwide transport strike beginning November 22. At least 200,000 traditional jeepney operators are expected to join the strike.

December 14-present

On December 11, 2023, PISTON and its allies announced a two-day nationwide transport strike that will be held on December 14 and 15, 2023. The groups are protesting the December 31, 2023 deadline set by the LTFRB for transport franchise consolidation. A day later, PISTON also announced that the strike will continue, despite Bongbong Marcos' announcement that there will be no extension for franchise consolidation. The group claimed a 90% paralysis rate on major routes inside Metro Manila, and a paralysis rate of 85% on routes outside Metro Manila.

After the initial two-day strike led by PISTON, the group, together with Manibela, announced an extension of the transport strikes that might last until January 2024, a move precipitated by the LTFRB's signing of memorandum circular 2023-051 which effectively bans unconsolidated PUVs to operate beyond December 31, 2023.

Response

National government

President Bongbong Marcos urged transport groups to reconsider the March 2023 strikes, appealing to their potential impact on commuters. He said that the modernization program is a must but expressed apprehension about the program's immediate implementation. He acknowledged the need to engage in dialogue to tweak the program's implementation to reduce the financial burden of the operators. He has proposed alternatives to its implementation such as allowing old utility vehicles that passes an inspection to continue operating. The LTFRB would move the deadline of phaseout from June 30, 2023, to December 31, 2023.

The Department of Education (DepEd) announced that there would be no suspension of classes during the March 2023 strikes but said that those who are not able to attend physically should be allowed to "continue to learn through Alternative Delivery Modes". Select universities in Metro Manila has announced a shift to online classes for the duration of the strike. However, on July 24, which was supposed to be the first day of the second strike, President Marcos suspended classes in public schools and government work due to the strike as well as inclement weather caused by Typhoon Doksuri (Egay).

Local governments

All mayors of localities of Metro Manila and the MMDA have pledged to provide free rides to commuters that would be affected by the March 2023 strike.

Aftermath

Following a meeting with the Presidential Communications Office at Malacañang Palace on March 7, PISTON and Manibela declared an end of the strike. They announced resumption of regular operations for its drivers starting the following day. The strike ended five days than the originally planned date of March 12.

Manibela chairperson Mar Valbuena later revealed on the evening of March 7 that the administration had agreed to delay the implementation of the program to December 31, 2023, and to use the intervening months to review all the aspects of the program implementation, taking the concerns of drivers, operators, and other stakeholders into account.

See also

• 2017–2019 transport strikes in the Philippines
• Protests against Bongbong Marcos