00:00The first day of the transport strike was not felt by several groups of jeepney drivers.
00:04This is the story of Alan Francisco.
00:08The transport strike was not felt by the group of Pistón and Manibela.
00:12While the PTV News team was touring some cities in Metro Manila,
00:16no stranded commuters were noticed this morning.
00:19In Commonwealth, in Carson City,
00:21several jeepney drivers stopped the transport strike.
00:24Passengers were able to drive safely in the area.
00:27Many passengers were able to travel in a traditional or modern jeepney.
00:32This is also the situation in a terminal of a jeepney
00:34in Caloocan named Biaheng Malabon Acacia Monumento.
00:38According to their officer, Leandro Doplin,
00:41they did not join the transport strike
00:43because 99% of the drivers of their group were already consolidated.
00:47We had no choice.
00:49This is what was given to us.
00:52It was like we were made into a group.
00:56Even though the cooperatives were different,
00:59it was like we were made into a group.
01:01The government, on the other hand,
01:03was forced to join the transport strike of the two groups
01:06because the two groups were against the government's PUV modernization program.
01:12Transportation officials said,
01:14there were no stranded passengers
01:16because first, only a few joined the strike.
01:19Second, there were prepared free vehicles from different agencies
01:22or government officials.
01:24The Philippine National Police also watched
01:26for those who were forced to join the strike.
01:28Secretary Jaime Bautista insisted
01:31that the PUV modernization program will continue in the country.
01:34The PUV modernization program is a very important project.
01:40We will implement it.
01:43It is supported by our beloved President.
01:46It is also supported by many members of Congress and the Senate.
01:50That is why we in the Department of Transportation
01:53will do everything to implement it properly.
01:57Meanwhile,
01:58the DOTR will issue a fine to motorists
02:03who enter toll highways in Greater Metro Manila
02:06without radio frequency identification tags,
02:09said the official.
02:10That is the Joint Memorandum Circular 01.
02:16We are happy that although we will defer the implementation,
02:22we saw, personally, that many people are using RFID.
02:29Every time I pass through our tollways,
02:32I see that many people are using RFID.
02:38This means that many will support this program.
02:45The so-called fine will be implemented on October 1 this year.
02:49But it will be deferred again
02:51and it will be possible to implement it in January of the next year.
02:54Alan Francisco for Pabansang TV in Bagong, Philippines.
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