This might be good news for Metro Manila students who find school a drag (But you shouldn’t, guys. School is good for you.)
Anyway, Palace officials said earlier today that the cancellation of classes in Metro Manila may last for a week depending on the outcome of the ongoing strike led by transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston).
When asked about the Palace’s reaction to the protest, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque chose to describe the protest leaders as “threats.”
“The president has instructed that he will suspend classes even with the slightest threat of a strike to ensure the protection and well-being of students,” Roque said. “We reiterate that the government remains steadfast to modernize our public utility vehicles and will not be bullied or held hostage by some transport groups.”
Piston chair George San Mateo said that the decision to cancel classes only shows that the government doesn’t care about drivers’ and operators’ concerns.
“Instead of [having the president] talk to us and face us, so we can talk about our problems, they are spreading confusion to create a justification of a crackdown against legitimate protests of our drivers,” San Mateo was quoted in Tagalog in a CNN Philippines report.
In other areas of the country, it is up to the LGUs to cancel classes.
Several protests have been staged over the administration’s jeepney modernization program, which requires jeepney drivers to get rid of old vehicles in exchange for newer, more eco-friendly ones.
The drivers take issue with the cost of acquiring the new jeeps. According to Piston, new jeepneys, budgeted at PHP1.4 million (US$27,873.70) each, will cost too much even with the financial aid the government plans to provide.
The government had already started cracking down on old jeeps in January. Over 200 smoke-belching and defective jeeps were issued citations on the first day of the crackdown.
Apart from being the most common mode of public transportation in the Philippines, jeepneys are also seen as a symbol of Philippine culture.
Reader Interactions