MANILA, Philippines – Hundreds are stranded on the streets on Tuesday evening, September 26, due to the two-day transport strike in protest of the government's jeepney modernization program.
Earlier this September, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Development Bank of the Philippines for the bank to provide loans to qualified cooperatives for the acquisition of new public utility vehicles (PUV).
The Department of Transportation launched the PUV modernization program in June which orders the replacement of jeepneys aged 15 years or older. (READ: Is the PUV modernization program 'anti-poor?')
Stranded commuters aired their frustration online as they battled for a ride on the streets and kept themselves dry from the rain:
#WalangMasakyan - Curated tweets by MovePH
According to data from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), around 180,000 jeepneys need to be replaced.– Rappler.com