Bus Strike Strands Thousands in Manila

VOA Breaking News (Voice of America)
November 15, 2010 at 9:45 pm

Thousands of commuters were left stranded Monday in Manila after bus operators walked out to protest a government measure aimed at alleviating traffic congestion.

Local news reports say at least half of the bus drivers serving the Philippine capital took part in the unannounced strike.

Philippine authorities mobilized police and military vehicles to help transport people stranded along major routes in and around the capital.

Bus drivers are protesting the government’s decision to impose a number-coding system for operating public transit buses. Under the system, buses with license plates ending in numbers one and two are banned from the streets on Mondays, those ending in three and four are banned on Tuesdays, and so on.

Opponents of the scheme say traffic was congested in Manila Monday despite the reduced number of buses.