MANILA (UPDATED) — Transport group MANIBELA announced on Wednesday that it will hold another transport strike starting on Monday, March 24, 2025, to protest the government's allegedly inaccurate consolidation figures. 

Franchise consolidation is a requirement under the Public Transport Modernization Program. 

According to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, the nationwide consolidation rate for public utility vehicles already reached 86 percent after the deadline for applications.

But during a press conference, MANIBELA Chairman Mar Valbuena slammed the LTFRB for misleading the public and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. into thinking that the consolidation program was effective and there was no need to suspend the modernization push. 

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Valbuena cited a recent media interview with new Department of Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon where he said only 43 percent of PUVs are officially consolidated while the other 43 percent may have applied but have yet to fully comply with the consolidation requirements. 

"Eto po yung nagsabi lang na gusto naming mag-consolidate dahil napilitan sa deadline… Papano po kung nag-apply ito e hindi naman nila na-comply yung requirements?" he said.

Valbuena claimed that many jeepney operators and drivers were even denied by the transport cooperatives or corporations they were trying to join.

"Marami ang na-deny sa kanilang application dahil sobra na raw sa bilang o hindi nakapagpasa ng requirements. Marami yung ganung cases natin na naloko lang, nasingil lang, nagbayad lang ng consolidation fee, membership fee, pero hindi naman na-consolidate," he said. 

The group is now appealing to Dizon to heed their call to review the modernization program and sack current LTFRB Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz and other officials.

"Nagsinungaling sila sa ating Presidente sa mga datos na binigay nila. Hindi sila pwedeng pagkatiwalaan at dapat lang silang sibakin ni DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon," asserted Valbuena. 

"Maya't maya pinag-iinitan kami ng mga enforcers dahil nga hindi kami nakarehistro dahil sa maling datos na ibinigay ng DOTr at LTFRB sa ating pangulo. Sabi niya wala nang extension dahil sapat na yung bilang ng nag-consolidate pero kasinungalingan pala mali pala," he added.

In a statement, the DOTr said Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered Assistant Secretary for Road Transport and Non-infrastructure Jojo Reyes to start a dialogue with the transport group as soon as possible. 

"The Department hopes that instead of a transport strike, we sit down for a dialogue to work together to keep commuters safe and comfortable while ensuring the welfare of our drivers and operators are protected," it said. 

The bureau also said it is working to ensure that commuters are not greatly affected by the strike. 

"The DOTr is working closely with the (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) and our (local government units) to provide free rides to address any inconveniences that our commuters may experience."