Bus strike leaves thousands stranded

[CVT]

Tanggalan ng prangkisa ang mga bus nila.... It's time to clear EDSA of these road hazards....

11.3K:snow:

[red16]

Sabi ni Claire De La Fuente sa TV Patrol, NA-LATE LANG DAW YUNG MGA DRIVER.

!!!*#$%^&! sino niloloko niya.

Maybe her Brainless brain ang na-lalate pumik-up!:gayfight: "HELLOOO'... ANG MGA DRIVER NGA ANG MAAGANG BUMABHAYE SA KALYE PARA KUMITA agad NG PERA.

[[archie]]

mahirap lumusot sa sobrang gusto. alam niya pwede sila tangalan ng prangkisa kaya nagdahilan na.

[kurby]

Hindi ko na alam ang nangyayari sa Pilipinas, may strike pala na ganire. Abay kung lumuwang ang trapiko sa EDSA edi mabuti ngang bawasan ang mga bus o kaya'y gawin nila itong per ora. Kada 1 hour or 30 mins may isang bus sa rutang iyon para hindi mapuno ng bus ang kalsada at para matuto na rin ang mga kababyan kong Pilipino na pahalagahan nag oras.

[Monseratto]

This is a lot of BULLCRAP!!!

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/206038/n...-bus-operators

No strike, just miscommunication among drivers - bus operators
JERRIE M. ABELLA, GMANews.TV
11/15/2010 | 10:19 PM

Share11 There was no transport “holiday," only miscommunication among drivers without cellphones who thought there was indeed a strike, bus operators said on Monday.

At a press conference, operators said they should not be blamed for the inconvenience suffered by thousands of Metro Manila commuters who got stranded along EDSA due to lack of buses. They said the blame should be on the drivers who were late for work or who didn't go to work at all.

“Kanina walang gustong magsalita mula sa hanay namin dahil wala kaming kasalanan. Ang kanilang mga driver, na-late ng pagpasok, ang alam ng iba ay may strike," said Claire dela Fuente, president of the Integrated Metro Bus Operators Association, in a report over GMA News’ “24 Oras."

(Nobody from us wanted to speak earlier because we are not at fault. Some of the drivers were late for work because they thought there was a strike.)

At least three thousand passengers were stranded early Monday, according to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), as they jostled for space in the few buses that plied the stretch of EDSA from Quezon City to Ortigas and Mandaluyong City.

Reports also said many passengers were stranded at Kamuning and East Avenue in Quezon City.

No cellphones

Dela Fuente likewise blamed the lack of cellular phones of bus drivers, which allegedly contributed to the miscommunication.

"Karamihan ng driver ay walang cellphone, o kaya ang cellphone ay mahina ang baterya kaya pinapatay nila pagdating sa bahay. Pag matutulog, pinapatay," she said.

(Most drivers don’t own cellphones. Those who do would turn their phones off at home to save the battery.)

Government authorities, however, were incredulous to what appeared like a flimsy excuse of the operators, as they threatened the bus firms which participated in the “strike" with sanctions that include possible cancellation of franchise.

Sanctions

In the same TV report, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairperson Nelson Laluces said they would use the inconvenience suffered by the stranded passengers as basis for possible sanctions against the operators.

"Our sanctions range from monetary penalty and the most severe sanction is cancellation of franchise. This all depends on the circumstances why we would consider them to have participated in the strike," Laluces said.

Even MMDA chair Francis Tolentino did not seem convinced, as he described the transport strike a “disservice" to the commuting public.

"Hindi yung number coding implementation ang naging problema. Ang naging problema rito ‘yung hindi bumiyahe, dinisregard ang kanilang certificate of public convenience, ‘yung kanilang prangkisa, to provide a disservice to our riding public," Tolentino said in the same report.

(The problem here is not the number coding implementation, but the strike itself. The drivers and operators disregarded their certificates of public convenience, their franchises.)

Number coding

On Monday, the MMDA started implementing a number-coding scheme that bars buses from plying Metro Manila’s main roads depending on the last digit of their license plates. Buses with plate numbers ending in 1 and 2 were the first to be affected.

Commuters were stranded on Monday when bus operators opposing the scheme reportedly staged a strike and refused to accommodate passengers.

Of the over 12,000 buses traveling in Metro Manila and nearby provinces, only 2,000 should have been affected by the scheme, the MMDA said.

Even as they belied reports of a strike, other operators said they are open to alternative schemes other than the number coding, which they said will deal a death blow to the bus transportation industry.

"It is only now that we are able to express what we feel. All we ask is for us to be given a chance to participate in any decision making because we affect majority of the people. And we saw it this morning," said Ayette Groves, a Metro bus operator

The number coding scheme will temporarily be suspended on Tuesday, a holiday.

On Wednesday, however, it remains unclear if passengers will again have to endure hours of being stuck in EDSA, and shove their way into the few buses that will travel if the “holiday" continues. - KBK, GMANews.TV

[ans_lim168]

Bottom line is when the buses were decreased, traffic was lessened, that should put to rest who are the culprits for the daily traffic chaos on EDSA is, this a "no brainer", Dela Fuente should just keep her trap shut, no amount of excuses "alibis" could justify her reasoning. At least the private motoring public don't resort to "hostage" when an unfavorable decision is enforced among them.

[ghosthunter]

Bottom line is when the buses were decreased, traffic was lessened, that should put to rest who are the culprits for the daily traffic chaos on EDSA is, this a "no brainer", Dela Fuente should just keep her trap shut, no amount of excuses "alibis" could justify her reasoning. At least the private motoring public don't resort to "hostage" when an unfavorable decision is enforced among them.

+1

It was clear to anyone since the first major transport strike many years ago that the major cause of traffic on the major roads is the over-population of buses & PUJs and their unpopular habit of clumping up at the popular loading/unloading areas.

[vh3r]

i think meron ganito dati eh di ko lang alam kaninong term pa yun kay marcos pa ba or kay cory na.

yung bus na kung saan para silang tren na kabit kabit pero byaheng metro manila sya.

sana ganito nalang para isang byahe marami kaagad.

ngayon ang byahe lang ng bus na ganito eh tatapat sa peak hours then pahinga muna kapag hindi peak hours dahil for sure hindi sila mapupuno.

or else meron silang stations na kung saan doon sila pwede mag puno then alis.

Here's one solution:



Advantages of the Bus Convoy system:

- takes up only one lane

- easier to schedule groups of buses

- uses existing buses

- simple / low tech

[Batang Regla]

Yung spokeperson ng IMBOA dapat pang radio lang pag iinterviewhin. Sa TV kasi kahit sampo beses sya maligo hindi pa rin talaga halata eh.

[jimnyeatworld]

hay naku.. ano naman aasahan nyo dyan, she's just out to make money and no real concern for the commuting public.

you guys should see how this claire dela fuente operate. some 5 or 6 years ago, i was in a meeting in a restaurant (di ko na sasabihin) and I noticed how this woman in the other table was too close for comfort dun sa lalaki na kasama nya. the restaurant is cozy kasi, medyo dim lights.

initially, i thought married or mag-syota sila bec. they were so close and sweet. later on i found out sa mga ka-meet ko na yun pala yun Claire De La Fuente.

and guess what who's the other guy, a top level official sa public works and highways. kasi nun lumabas na sila nagkamay sila when the bodyguards of the official came in.

san ka naman nakakakita nun, sobrang sweet and cuddling sa isang corner ng room, tapos handshake pagdating ng mga bodyguards, like it was a formal meeting.

that's how she operates kaya hindi ako magtataka na ganyan sya maginarte sa media

[SiRbossR]

hay. shoot to kill na dapat yan si dela fuente. puro lang kapalpakan.

[Ma^ride]

Nobody bought their alibis anyway regarding a "no strike confirmation on their side" Dapat lang talaga sa mga ito masampolan ng batas man lang kasi they think the governing body (LTFRB , MMDA) are toothless somehow

[roninblade]

im not following the news... ano na action nangyari dito?

[Densker]

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/nat...-monday-strike

Aalamin at pagpapaliwanagin ng LTFRB kung sinu-sino ang sumali sa tigil-pasada ng mga bus kahapon sa unang araw nang pagpapatupad ng number coding. Tiyak namang may parusang suspensyon o kanselasyon ng kanilang mga prangkisa ang mga nanadyang hindi bumiyahe.

“There is an assurance that we will impose sanctions. But the cancellation, siyempre, depends on the circumstances, depends on what these bus companies will give us. That is why we will investigate properly,” ani LTFRB Chairperson Nelson Laluces.

“It was a disruption of the transport system,” ani Transportation Secretary Jose de Jesus.

Sabi naman ng mga bus operator, walang nangyaring strike. Nagkulang daw ang mga bus dahil marami ang hindi puwedeng ibiyahe dahil sa number coding.

Anila, mahigit 100 o mahigit kalahati ng bus ng isang kumpanya ang hindi maaaring ibiyahe kapag Lunes dahil ang plaka nito ay nagtatapos sa 1 at 2.

“Ngayon madalas po nating itanong kung ano ba talaga ang nangyari, siguro po puwede rin nating maitanong ngayon na ano ba ang nangyari sa number coding? The main issue is sana nagkaroon ng consultation,” ani Atty. Grace Aducul.

Ayon naman sa Metro Manila Development Authority, may mga ebidensiya silang sinadyang hindi pumasada ng ilang bus operator.

“Kahit po i-deny nila na walang strike, we still define a strike as a planned, deliberate and concerted efforts on the part of holders of certificates of public convenience to disrupt the delivery of basic services to the prejudice of the riding public. 'Yan po ang ginawa nila kahapon,” ani MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino.

Gusto ng Pangulo na mag-dayalogo ang mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan at mga bus operator para makahanap ng solusyon sa lumalalang traffic sa Metro Manila. Hindi naman nangangahulugang ititigil ang number coding.

Nakahanda ang gobyerno na mag-alok muli ng libreng sakay sakaling mahirapan na naman ang mga pasahero bukas, strike man o hindi ang itinawag dito ng mga bus operator. Willard Cheng, Patrol ng Pilipino

[Lucius]

Low-life scumbags.

[A121]

Bottom line is when the buses were decreased, traffic was lessened, that should put to rest who are the culprits for the daily traffic chaos on EDSA is, this a "no brainer", Dela Fuente should just keep her trap shut, no amount of excuses "alibis" could justify her reasoning. At least the private motoring public don't resort to "hostage" when an unfavorable decision is enforced among them.

I rode the bus today and traffic was still the same. The time when traffic was light was when gasoline prices hit between 50 to 60 pesos.

Anyway, a reduction by using the number coding scheme isn't the complete solution. Although there is a reduction in the number of buses, some buses still spend a lot of time stopped in the Cubao area.

What I want to see MMDA/LTFRB do:

- Remove all the colorum buses off the streets.
- Implement a timed loading and unloading system.
- Strict implementation of loading and unloading zones.
- Review the current bus franchises especially those with the so called kabit system (Most are owned by Claire dela Fuente)

These might solve the current traffic problem in Edsa, which will both benefit the riding public and private motorists.

[dragon21]

There is a marked improvement on traffic with the color coding scheme. Still, EDSA morning traffic was better last Monday, than today.

Ergo, the answer is not color-coding, but perhaps an odd-even scheme on these buses!

[Monseratto]

Sana nga. But all talk and no action is the norm...

http://www.gmanews.tv/story/206145/m...bus-franchises

MMDA eyes ‘purging’ of bus franchises
11/17/2010 | 08:12 AM

Share6 Following Monday’s bus strike that left more than 8,000 commuters stranded in Metro Manila, authorities are considering a purge of bus franchises to weed out rogue operators.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino said he may seek Congress’ help in canceling all franchises and having operators apply for new ones.

“Kagaya ng sa Comelec pag may flying voters, double registrants at double entries, kina-cancel ang book of voters at nagsisimula ng bagong registration para malinis ang book of voters. Ganito rin siguro sa prangkisa. Kung kakanselahin natin lahat, magsimula silang mag-apply uli para start from zero, at malaman sino ang legal, illegal, colorum at karapat-dapat," he said in an interview on dwIZ radio.

(Just like in the Commission on Elections, if there are flying voters and double registrants, the book of voters is canceled and a new registration is held. In our case, we can junk the list of franchises and have all operators apply for new franchises. That way we can start from zero and screen out the rogue and colorum operators.)

MMDA spokeswoman Tina Velasco hinted at a similar proposal as she said it would be better if “we can start from scratch."

“Maybe if we can start from scratch, mas maigi sana yan (If we can start from scratch, it would be better)," she said in a separate interview on dzXL radio.

But Tolentino said they will need the help of Congress in legislating the nullification of the existing franchises.

He added parties concerned may bring it up at a traffic management summit that government is organizing for December 3.

Tolentino made the suggestion days after bus operators opposing the MMDA’s number-coding scheme for buses stopped plying Metro Manila’s main thoroughfares Monday.

Initial findings by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board showed 100 of 140 bus operators did not ply their routes in Metro Manila last Monday.

Meanwhile, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) was expected to deliver show-cause orders to bus firms that did not ply their routes.

Radio dzBB’s Allan Gatus reported the bus firms that will get such orders should explain why they should not be sanctioned for their no-show last Monday, causing inconvenience to commuters. — LBG, GMANews.TV

[Batang Regla]

Si MMDA chairman tolentino tabingi utak nyan. Tingnan nyo tagaytay ngayon ang gulo gulo na. Nung panahon nya sa tagaytay bigay ng bigay ng building permit yan.

Di ba plano nya lagyan ng odd-even scheme private cars sa edsa pero binara lang sya ng metro manila mayor council.

Ewan ko talaga bakit ginawang mmda chairman taga tagaytay.

[KERSMcRae]

IMHO, the govt should include buses for its public transport services, funds should not be a problem for the our govt(only an excuse).

I would Like to compare the public transport system here in Canada (and maybe in other countries too). Here, Im surprised that buses are the priority on the roads, next to emergency vehicles. Almost on time ang departure at arrival sa lahat ng destination/ bus stop/ terminals. Walang private-owned PUBs. They are grouped and travel with a "specifi" route. They dont have conductors. Fares are thru a stored value tickets or maghulog ka ng coins and you will be given a fare ticket. Bus drivers are men and women (young and old). Also the fare ticket can be used in the metro (trains) for a prescribed period.

I have experienced riding bus here when our boss accompanied us to try commuting going downtown. We leaved our service (his vehicle, ) at the central terminal and take a ride. Im amazed that their 10-minute interval is really on time ,

But some local residents here complain that their public transport (bus and trains) system is already very outdated and obsolete. But for me who came from a "3rd world' country and used to a road jungle like Metro Manila, their system is EXCELLENT.

This is my experience outside Pinas... (hoping to be back HOME soon..)