Jauhn Etienne Villaruel

Article (news)

Manibela

Bea Cuadra

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1758072290473cropped-viber_image_2025-09-17_08-40-52.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Manibela protests against corruption and unmet government promises</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>MANILA — Transport group Manibela on Wednesday kicked off its three-day protest along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.</p><p>“Yes to modernization, no to consolidation,” as stated in one of their tarpaulins.</p><p>Manibela chairman Mar Valbuena spoke passionately during the protest.</p><p>He highlighted the significant financial contributions of jeepney drivers to the nation&#x27;s economy.</p><p>&quot;Isipin ninyo, mula umaga hanggang hatinggabi bumibiyahe kami at naghahatid tayo ng serbisyo sa ating mamamayan,&quot; Valbuena said.</p><p>&quot;Sa kada litro na nagkakarga tayo ng diesel, may value added tax, may excise tax, hindi bababa sa 30 liters a day ang kinakarga namin na humigit kumulang nasa P500 ang inaambag natin sa kaban ng bayan. &#x27;Di bababa sa P15,000 sa isang buwan, &#x27;di bababa sa P180,000 na buwis sa langis sa loob ng isang taon,” he explained.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FabscbnNEWS%2Fvideos%2F795831550072228%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>The demonstration, held in the Philcoa area, is a strong call for an end to corruption and a demand for the government to address agreements that have yet to be fulfilled.</div><p>&quot;Bukod sa korapsyon, &#x27;yung mga napag-usapan between DOTr and Manibela noong Marso at Abril, ni isa po noon, wala pang nangyayari,&quot; Valbuena said, referring to the Department of Transportation.</p><p>&quot;Napalitan na at may acting DOTr secretary na tayo, pero hanggang ngayon po, acting pa rin sa kalsada ang ginagawa nila at wala pa rin pong solusyon sa problema ng ating mga mananakay.&quot;</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>&#x27;NAPAKAWALANGHIYA&#x27;</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>Valbuena went on to express his frustration with the alleged misuse of these funds.</p><p>&quot;Tapos itong mga DPWH contractor, mga nakaupo sa Kongreso, ninanakaw lang at pinang-ca-casino lang,&quot; he said.</p><p>He described the government officials involved as &quot;napakawalanghiya po ng nasa gobyerno na yung pinagpapaguran at pinaghihirapan ng taong bayan, pinagkakasasaan lamang nila.&quot;</p><p>He also claimed that some members of the Manibela group who chose to continue working were likely pressured by authorities.</p><p>&quot;Kung meron man mga bumiyahe ay mga kooperatiba siguro na kinausap ng LTFRB kasi tinatatakot din sila na kapag tumigil sila, tatanggalan sila ng prangkisa o sususpinde sila,&quot; Valbuena explained.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>PARTICIPANTS</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The protest has seen participation from various parts of Metro Manila and nearby provinces, including Fairview, Bulacan, Novaliches, Monumento, Malabon, Navotas, and parts of Manila and the South.</p><p>Valbuena estimates that out of 300,000 jeepneys nationwide, around 100,000 are participating in the strike.</p><p>This is the first of a three-day protest, which Valbuena said will include a free ride service on September 21.</p><p>“Dahil sa September 21 kami naman po ay magpapalibreng sakay lahat ng papunta ng Luneta na kung saan may miyembro ng Manibela na maghahatid din po pauwi sa ating mga mahal na kababayan,” Valbuena said.</p><p>He stated that Manibela members would also provide rides back home.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TrRmC5sceRU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>The demonstration was a strong call for an end to corruption and a demand for the government to address agreements that have yet to be fulfilled.</p>

The demonstration was a strong call for an end to corruption and a demand for the government to address agreements that have yet to be fulfilled.

Manibela kicks off 3-day transport strike over corruption, 'unmet' gov't promises

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Manibela kicks off 3-day transport strike over corruption, 'unmet' gov't promises

Bea Cuadra,

ABS-CBN News

Published September 17, 2025 09:26 AM PHT

Read More:

Transport strike

Manibela

Quezon City

Corruption

DPWH

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