Class suspensions loom over transport strike

MANILA, Philippines — Malacañang will suspend classes in Metro Manila for four days should transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) push through with its plan to conduct continuous nationwide strikes, presidential spokesman Harry Roque said yesterday.

“If and when PISTON pushes through with its threat despite its unsuccessful protest today, we will suspend classes in Metro Manila starting tomorrow, March 20 until Friday, March 23,” Roque said. 

“We appeal for patience and understanding, especially to commuters who were inconvenienced by the strike,” he added. 

Roque said it’s up to local government units outside Metro Manila whether to suspend classes in their jurisdictions. 

“We remain committed to modernize our public utility vehicles. We see this as one of the long-term solutions to decongest our streets of dilapidated and smoke-belching jeepneys,” he said. 

PISTON national president George San Mateo challenged Malacañang to face the issues hounding the transport modernization program instead of avoiding it by threatening to suspend classes for one week.

San Mateo said it was illogical for Palace officials to threaten a one-week class suspension over a one-day strike.

He described as “fake news” the report that the labor group would continue the strike today.

Classes suspended

Although Malacañang downplayed the transport strike, it was forced to suspend afternoon classes in Metro Manila yesterday.

The suspension took effect at 2 p.m. 

At least 2,000 commuters were stranded in several areas paralyzed by the strike.

Among the schools that cancelled classes were Colegio de San Juan de Letran, College of St. Benilde, De La Salle University, Far Eastern University, Miriam College, Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta. Isabel College, St. Paul University, University of the East and University of Santo Tomas.

Aileen Lizada of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said the strike hardly affected the commuters, as she debunked PISTON’s claim that up to 90 percent of Metro Manila’s major routes were paralyzed. 

Lizada said the LTFRB helped ferry at least 1,900 stranded passengers on 28 vehicles dispatched in key areas.

She said the figure represented only .05 percent of three million public commuters in the metropolis. 

PISTON said it was able to paralyze Cubao, Marikina, San Pedro, Rizal, Sta. Mesa, Novaliches, Las Piñas, Sangandaan and Alabang. 

The Supreme Court (SC) suspended work in courts nationwide due to the transport strike.

Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio ordered the courts to dismiss employees early or by 2 p.m., according SC spokersman Theodore Te.

Carpio directed the frontline offices at the SC, Court of Appeals as well as executive judges of trial courts to maintain a skeletal work force.

Militant labor group Kilusang Mayo Uno (KMU) yesterday joined a call to stop the government’s “Tanggal-bulok, Tanggal-usok” campaign, which they branded as anti-poor.

Meanwhile, the Philippine National Police (PNP) said yesterday’s transport strike was generally peaceful and had minimal effect on commuters.

PNP spokesman Chief Supt. John Bulalacao said they did not receive any report of untoward incident.

The Manila Police District said the transport strike did not affect commuters in the city. – Mayen Jaymalin, Non Alquitran, Romina Cabrera, Rainier Allan Ronda, Edu Punay, Rey Galupo, Ghio Ong, Emmanuel Tupas, Rhodina Villanueva, Marc Jason Cayabyab