The jeepney group Manibela highlighted discrepancies in the jeepney consolidation records, which are impacting the livelihoods of jeepney drivers, just days before their three-day nationwide strike.

The jeepney strike will take place from Monday, 24 March, to Wednesday, 26 March. Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena estimates that at least 150,000 jeepney drivers will participate.

Valbuena said in a phone interview that jeepney drivers are being apprehended because the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) released consolidation records.

“There was a claim by the LTFRB that at least 86% of the public utility jeepneys underwent the consolidation program however in an interview with Transport Secretary Vince Dizon only 43% of the jeepneys were registered.”

He also added that the figure Dizon shared included different public utility vehicles, such as jeepneys, buses, and UV Express.

The jeepney group chairman said they are hoping for a deadline extension that would allow jeepney drivers to operate on the streets again.

After the jeepney consolidation deadline, numerous jeepneys were apprehended by law enforcement.

"The minimum penalty is around P12,000, but we have a member who was fined P50,000. Where is the driver supposed to get that? Their earnings from driving aren't that high," Valbuena added.

On 5 March, the LTFRB issued a memorandum requiring comprehensive training for franchise renewal. However, for Valbuena, this is too expensive, especially for jeepney operators.

"I hope this memorandum will be scrapped, or at the very least, the fee should be reduced to P400 or P500. Ideally, it should be free, or there should be a dedicated budget for this."

In January, the transport group also organized a nationwide strike to protest the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) and other transport-related issues, including the rising cost of gasoline.