The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman on Monday, Oct. 16, deemed transport group Manibela’s claim that 200,000 vehicles would join the nationwide transport strike “exaggerated” as only a handful could be seen participating on the road.

“So far, hindi ko naman po minamaliit, [pero] mukhang exaggerated po yung sinasabi ng leader ng strike na 200,000 plus vehicles yung sasama. Mukhang handful lamang po,” MMDA chief Romando “Don” Artes said in an interview during DZRH's Dos Por Dos.

Artes added that MMDA had geared up for the monitoring of the transport group’s strike together with various government agencies.

But when asked how the monitoring was going, he said the strike seemed like it was not felt as much.

“Actually parang wala naman po eh. Hindi naman po natin minamaliit pero wala naman po tayong nakita na activities except mga pocket rallies na may ilang miyembro na may dalang placard,” Artes said.

Rescue vehicles for commuters

The MMDA chief conceded that they had augmentation plans for commuters in case the demand arose.

“Pag nakakakita tayo ng bigat ng pasahero, nagpapadala po tayo ng augmentation sa transport,” he said.

Artes, however, claimed that they were yet to dispatch these vehicles in favor of public utility jeepneys (PUJs) who did not participate in the strike.

“Hindi po natin pinapa-dispatch kaagad [...] dahil nga po kung idi-dispatch natin yun kaagad-agad kahit walang demand ay dyan po pupunta yung ating mga kababayan dahil libre,” he said.

“Kawawa naman po yung mga kababayan na nasa hanay ng transportasyon na hindi sumama sa strike dahil sila po ay walang kikitain kaya mina-manage po natin mabuti yan,” the MMDA chief added.

‘To block Malacañang’s facade with jeepneys’

When asked if they could arrest jeepney drivers and operators once Manibela proceeded with their plan to block the Malacañang’s facade with jeepneys, Artes said yes.

“‘Yun po ay ginawa na natin noong nakaraan, nung SONA [...] nag-reposition po tayo ng mga tow trucks at talagang i-impound namin kung sakaling ihaharang nila. Dahil obstruction po yan sa kalsada,” he added.

Transport group Manibela earlier announced that the tranport strike is their protest against the jeepney phaseout.