Several passengers were stranded in different parts of Marikina on Monday morning, Nov. 20, the first day of the three-day transport strike, according to RH Edniel Parrosa's report in MBC Network News.
Based on the report, this is due to a local transport group who allegedly blocked jeepney drivers to urge them to join the three-day transport strike initiated by transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON).
According to Felipe Reogo of the Marikina Office of Public Safety and Security (OPSS), there are stranded passengers at the Marikina bridge aside from the passengers' line-up in the Marikina Sports Complex.
"Sabi nga po ng isang grupo ng Pasig dito sa Marikina tulay, may nanghaharang na sa Marikina Palengke Pasig dito sa Pasig Marikina, kaya yung ibang driver tumigil na rin ng byahe. Kaya nagkakaroon tayo ngayong ng stranded ng pasahero," said Reogo.
He added that the stranded passengers are those affected by the transport strike of the Mapapjoda, a transport group from Marikina with 400 members and 100 units.
Mapapjoda is not a member of PISTON but sympathizes with the call for opposition to the consolidation deadline of the PUV modernization program set for December 31.
Meanwhile, Reogo said another transport group from Pasig also joined Mapapjoda and PISTON.
"Ang ginawa po namin ng malaman namin, umikot na po kami sa mga trnasport sectort po natin ang PNP. At nalaman natin na ang isang grupo ng Pasig ay magstrike, sasama sa welga ng tigil pasada," he said.
Marikina OPSS, however, said it has contracted a consolidated group to take over what was left by those who stopped operating.
The consolidated group has only 60 units, far from the 400 members of the Mapapjoda.
