President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. on Wednesday asked the transport groups to halt its nationwide one-week "tigil pasada" as this move would burden Filipino commuters.
"I'm hoping na dito sa mga initiatives na iniisip natin eh makumbinsi naman natin ang mga transport groups na huwag na muna mag-strike dahil kawawa talaga ang mga tao," Marcos told reporters in an ambush interview after his official visit at Burnham Green in Rizal Park, Manila.
"Marami pang naghihirap at mas lalo pang maghihirap pag hindi makapasok sa trabaho," he added.
The President said the government would further study the planned Public Utility Vehicle - Modernization Program (PUV-MP).
"We have to implement it in a different way. 'Yung modernization siguro, we have to look properly at what the real timetable is for the introduction of electric vehicles kung talagang pwede nga ngayon," he said.
But he noted that the PUV-MP is not urgent for now, saying that the country's infrastructure cannot handle it yet.
"Ito'y namin natin sa pag-uusap natin sa mga car manufacturers kasi nag-e-encourage tayo ng electric vehicles. Sabi nila pwede tayong gumawa ng eletric vehicles pero aayusin niyo muna 'yung source of power. Ganon ang mga isyu diyan sa modernization na kinakaharap ng ating public utility vehicles," he said.
Marcos said if the conditions of the old PUVs are still good, perhaps they should continue their operation.
"Just because because five years old, or ten years old, hindi na pwede. Tingnan natin yung condition. Kung maganda mag-alaga 'yung driber o maganda 'yung jeep niya, e'di pwede pa gamitin iyan at safe pa naman," he said.
On Monday, transportation groups’ announced a nationwide strike to protest against the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) memorandum that extended the franchising authority of jeepneys until June 30.
The Senate on Tuesday urged the LTFRB to suspend its planned phaseout of traditional jeepneys nationwide as part of the PUV-MP.
