Manibela suspends strike for transport talks with LTO

MANILA — Manibela president Mar Valbuena announced the transport group's decision to pause its strike following a request from the Land Transportation Office for negotiations. LTO Assistant Secretary Markus Lacanilao appealed to Manibela to suspend the work stoppage temporarily, creating space for officials and drivers' representatives to discuss grievances affecting the jeepney sector. Valbuena said the group agreed to the halt to facilitate the dialogue. The move marks a potential breakthrough in addressing long-standing issues faced by public utility jeepney operators, who have repeatedly clashed with regulatory authorities over operational policies and compliance requirements. Details of the scheduled talks and specific topics for discussion were not immediately disclosed. The suspension comes as the strike had begun to disrupt transportation services across Metro Manila and nearby provinces, affecting thousands of commuters who rely on jeepneys as their primary mode of public transport.