Jeepney drivers stage nationwide transport strike in the Philippines

Thousands of jeepney drivers staged a nationwide strike to slam a public transport modernisation programme in the Philippines.

Members of transport groups PISTON and MANIBELA cancelled all jeepney trips across the country leaving several commuters stranded on September 23.

Footage shows jeepney drivers in blue shirts holding up banners during a protest in Paranaque City in Metro Manila.

PISTON president Mody Floranda said: 'Around 80 per cent to 90 per cent of our members will participate because not only those who have not consolidated but also the cooperatives who have consolidated said they will join the protest.'

Local media reported that around 70,000 PISTON members and 100,000 MANIBELA members will participate in the two-day strike.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Teofilo Guadiz III said the agency made preparations to alleviate the effects of the protest. He claimed: 'Only a few joined the transport strike, we are also prepared to provide free rides and then the Philippine National Police is there to ensure peace and order...for operators who would force their colleagues to join the strike. So as of this time, no one got stranded.'

The protesters were criticising the government's 'Public Transport Modernization Program', which aims to phase out jeepneys at least 15 years old and replace them with newer models.

The vehicles are a major and affordable mode of transport in the country. However, under the new policy, jeepney drivers - who have an unreliable income from 500 PHP to 1,300 PHP (9 USD to 23 USD) a day - will be forced to buy new minibuses estimated to cost some 2.8 million PHP (50,000 USD).

Many of them said the required upgrade will push them into debt.

(1 USD = 55.98 PHP)