Labor coalition slams gov't for transport woes on GCQ start

The Nagkaisa labor coalition criticized the national government for its failure to provide adequate public transportation on the first day of the general community quarantine (GCQ) in Metro Manila.

Hundreds of thousands of workers faced chaos and confusion as they struggled to commute to work, with physical distancing compromised due to a lack of transport services.

The labor group stated that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) risked negating the sacrifices made during the two-month lockdown.

Nagkaisa proposed that the government could have avoided this 'transport fiasco' by implementing service contracting for public utility vehicles (PUVs) to provide safe and free transportation.

Service contracting, as proposed by the Move As One coalition, would involve the government paying PUV operators and drivers to run specific routes, ensuring sufficient public transport and protecting the livelihood of transport workers.

This system is contrasted with the 'boundary system,' where earnings depend on the number of passengers.

The coalition urged the DOTr, MMDA, and the national government to urgently address the situation to prevent a potential increase in COVID-19 cases.

Nagkaisa believes the government's haste to restart the economy without prioritizing worker safety has placed additional burdens on the working class.