MMDA pre-positions vehicles for transport strike

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Sunday said vehicles to be used to fetch would-be stranded vehicles are already pre-positioned and ready to be dispatched.

This was according to the MMDA, saying the assigned vehicles from various agencies and local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila are ready.

“The vehicles for free rides from various agencies and LGUs are prepositioned; as needed and the deployment depends on the monitoring of situation on the ground because there are many who will ply their routes,” the MMDA said, adding there would be a single dispatch for free rides from the agency and it will come from the communications and command center of the agency.

The preparation was due to the announcement of transport group Manibela of the three-day transport strike starting Monday, 24 March 2025, due to government’s allegedly inaccurate consolidation figures.

Franchise consolidation is a requirement under the Public Transport Modernization Program.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said the nationwide consolidation rate for public utility vehicles already reached 86 percent after the deadline for applications.

But MANIBELA Chairman Mar Valbuena slammed the LTFRB for misleading the public and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. into thinking that the consolidation program was effective and there was no need to suspend the modernization push.

Valbuena earlier said the new Department of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon where he said only 43 percent of PUVs are officially consolidated while the other 43 percent may have applied but have yet to fully comply with the consolidation requirements.

He claimed that many jeepney operators and drivers were even denied by the transport cooperatives or corporations they were trying to join.

The group appealed to DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon to heed their call to review the modernization program and sack current LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz and other officials.

Valbuena alleged the officials lied to President Marcos on the datas they gave him thus they should not be trusted and should be axed by Secretary Dizon.

Dizon though ordered Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Non-infrastructure Jojo Reyes to start a dialogue with the transport group as soon as possible.

He said the Department hopes that instead of a transport strike, there should be a dialogue to work together to keep commuters safe and comfortable while ensuring the welfare of drivers and operators are protected.

As early as 7 AM today, 24 March (Monday), MMDA Chairman Atty. Don Artes will be joined by DOTr Sec. Vince Dizon to the agency's Command Center to monitor the situation on major thoroughfares and other areas in Metro Manila as Manibela starts its transport strike.