Some commuters still struggle to find rides as PISTON strike enters day 2

The second day of the nationwide transport strike led by transport group PISTON began Wednesday morning, September 30, as some commuters continued to experience difficulties finding public transportation. CA Sitson, ABS-CBN News

MANILA — The second day of the nationwide transport strike led by transport group PISTON began Wednesday morning, September 30, as some commuters continued to experience difficulties finding public transportation.

Among those affected was Sheila San Pedro, a BPO employee who works in Quezon City and lives in Baliuag, Bulacan.

“Konti lang yung dumarating na jeep, wala naman masyadong traffic, struggle talaga. Affected din talaga yung mga consumer, mga employee na pumapasok everyday, pero gets din naman na affected talaga sila sa pagtaas ng gasolina,” San Pedro said.

San Pedro, who commutes daily from Bulacan, said she had already been adjusting her schedule even before the transport strike.

“From Bulacan pa talaga ko everyday uwian, before nung wala pang transport strike nag-a-adjust na ako. So ngayon mas doble pa yung adjustment kasi nga kagaya kanina ang shift ko ay 8:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m. andito na ko sa Cubao nakapila na kami tapos wala pa ring masyadong jeep,” San Pedro added.

Instead of taking a jeepney, Denise Manual who came from Antipolo Rizal, took an e-bus to get to work in Makati City.

Eunice Velasco, meanwhile, said she has been affected by the transport strike for two consecutive days. She works in Eastwood, Quezon City, and was heading home to Tondo, Manila after her night shift.

“Kahapon mayroon din strike so limited ang mga jeep so mahirap pong sumakay. Also the inflation, I sympathize din po sa mga jeepney driver kasi nga naman po grabe nga po yung pagtaas ng price ng oil. Very limited lang yung kinikita nila everyday,” Velasco shared.

'HANAPBUHAY EH'

The second day of the nationwide transport strike led by transport group PISTON began Wednesday morning, September 30, as some commuters continued to experience difficulties finding public transportation. CA Sitson

Some jeepney drivers chose to continue operating ahead of the second day of transport strike, saying they needed to earn money to pay their bills. One of them was Virgilio Reyes, who operates the Cubao-Divisoria route.

“Unang-una may nag-aaral ako, apat yung nag-aaral ko senior high tapos nangungupahan ako kailangan ko pambayad ng bahay. Yun ang dahilan kaya kahit ganito ang sitwasyon bumabyahe pa rin ako. Syempre tinitigasan ko na lang yung mukha ko syempre yung iba nagpoprotesta, kami bumabiyahe. Hanapbuhay eh, sa sobrang hirap ng panahon ngayon,” Reyes said.

The group PISTON plans to proceed to Welcome Rotonda in Quezon City and Mendiola in Manila on the second day of its nationwide transport strike.

They are set to depart from their main strike center in Westpoint, Cubao, Quezon City.

Around 30 personnel from the Cubao Police Station were deployed along a portion of Aurora Boulevard, Wednesday morning.

According to Lt. Col. Joy Garaiz Leanza, commander of QCPD Station 7, the police deployment is intended to ensure the smooth flow of traffic and maintain a peaceful assembly during the group’s activities.

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