Malacañang Palace has urged jeepney drivers who are on strike to engage in a dialogue with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to discuss their concerns.

Last week, transportation group Manibela announced it would hold a three-day transportation strike in protest of the PUV modernization program, which began Monday.

“Our only request, and Secretary Vince Dizon's request, is that the Manibela leadership first talk to us because let's remember, it's not just the government that can have... well, the impact is not just on the government but on the commuters themselves. Let's remember, the commuters are innocent and are just caught in the middle,” Palace Press Officer Undersecretary Claire Castro said in a briefing.

Castro noted that the government would provide free rides to ferry commuters on several routes across Metro Manila.

In a separate press conference, Dizon also expressed his openness to changes in the government’s Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) to address the concerns of transport groups.

“Absolutely, we're open to changes. This time it would be different. We would be open to changes because clearly there are some issues that need to be resolved,” he said.

He added that the DOTr would present a “solution” within two weeks after speaking to other stakeholders.

The DOTr chief noted that around 86 percent of public utility vehicles have applied for consolidation, and about 43 percent have been approved.

Meanwhile, Castro said the government would study the figures related to the approved consolidation of PUVs and encourage more jeepney operators and drivers to adopt a pro-consumer, pro-jeepney operator approach.

“We will encourage that everything that happens is in favor of commuters, and also in favor of jeepney operators and drivers. We should all have a win-win solution,” Castro stressed.

The PTMP started in 2017, aiming to replace jeepneys with units that have a Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution. It also aims to replace units that are not deemed roadworthy.

Modern jeepney units cost over P2 million, which, according to state-run banks LandBank and Development Bank of the Philippines, is too expensive for PUV drivers and operators.

Among the requirements of the modernization program is the consolidation of individual PUV franchises into cooperatives or corporations. Jeepneys that remain unconsolidated are considered colorum.