(Eagle News) –It was almost business as usual in the country despite the transport strike staged by several transport groups on Monday.
Elvira Medina, National Council for Commuter Protection, said in an interview with CNN Philippines that while two places–Pedro Gil St. in Manila and Samson Road in Caloocan—were “affected” by the strike in Metro Manila, operations were “not paralyzed.
She said the same was true in the provinces.
“There are some (affected areas) in Bacolod and Iloilo, but (the strike wasn’t felt as much),” she said.
She noted that the strike held by the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide and the Stop and Go Coalition was based on “invalid arguments.”
She said the department order which the transport groups said specified a looming phaseout of old jeepneys had been “superseded” by “practical” ones, based on her conversation with a government official.
“We got a copy of (their letter to their members)..(The attached department order) does not even have a number, nor a signature,” she said.
She also belied the transport leaders’ claims the government cancelled classes for some students on the day of the strike because it got scared of them.
“Our (purpose) was so students would not have a difficult time and so we could ensure their safety,” she said.