BY ASHZEL HACHERO

MAJOR transport groups are pushing through with their 24-hour strike today after failing to get a written agreement from Metro Manila mayors that they will implement a single trafficking system.

They will be joined by groups in Cavite, Batangas, Laguna and other nearby provinces.

The "number coding" scheme will be lifted, meaning vehicles with plate numbers ending in "3" and "4" will be allowed on the streets today.

The protesters are complaining that the different traffic schemes being implemented by local government units are being used by traffic law enforcers for extortion.

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita said President Arroyo is going over a proposed memorandum circular on consolidating the traffic schemes of LGUs and other issues raised by the transport sector. The memorandum submitted by Transportation Secretary Leandro Mendoza might be signed by Arroyo today, he said.

The Armed Forces' National Capital Region Command declared a red alert while the Metro Manila police would be on full alert effective last midnight.

The NCRcom and the PNP will deploy military and police vehicles to give free rides to stranded commuters. The Metro Manila Development Authority in coordination with the transportation department is fielding buses and service vehicles.

MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando told the leaders of the transport groups in a meeting yesterday that 11 of the 17 mayors have already agreed to implement unified traffic scheme, or the Metro Traffic Ticketing (MTT) system.

The six "holdouts" are Jejomar Binay of Makati, Joseph Victor Ejercito of San Juan, Alfredo Lim of Manila, Tobias Tiangco of Navotas, Sigfrido Tinga of Taguig, and Wenceslao Trinidad. They maintained that LGUs have the authority to implement their own traffic codes.

The meeting called by Fernando was attended by only Mayors Feliciano Belmonte of Quezon City, Marides Fernando of Marikina, and Joey Medina of Pateros. The rest sent representatives and their traffic bureau chiefs.

Zeny Maranan, president of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (Fejodap), said they would have to push through with the strike because of the insistence of some mayors on having their own traffic codes.

She said Fejodap has some 300,000 members.

Efren De Luna, chair of the Philippine Confederation of Drivers and Operators-Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators (PCDO-ACTO), said they want the agreement to be put "in black and white."

He said if authorities continue to delay the MTT's implementation, they would go to the next phase of the protest action.

"Sa Plan B, nationwide na at ihaharang namin ang aming mga sasakyan sa kalsada," he said.

George San Mateo, spokesman of the Pinag-isang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytors Nationwide (Piston), expressed confidence the strike would paralyze public transport in the metropolis.

He said it was the first time that the various groups have united for a common stand.

Other bus and jeepney groups joining the protest action are Pasang Masda, Makati Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (Mjoda), Integrated Metro Bus Operators Association (Imboa), Inter-City Bus Operators Association, the North-East Metro Bus Operators Association, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers of the Philippines (Altodap), and the Association of Taxi Operators in Metro Manila.

The bus operators said they have some 2,000 passenger buses operating in the metropolis.

Director Geary Barias, chief of the Metro Manila police who also attended the meeting, said the PNP would field two dozen buses for stranded passengers.

He reiterated his plea for protesters to refrain from resorting to violent acts like "pelting objects, planting road spikes or burning rubber tires."

Barias also said they are verifying reports that foreign terrorists will create trouble during the transport holiday.

PNP chief Avelino Razon said plainclothes policemen will monitor possible violations by striking transport group members, like coercing those who would not join the protest action. - With Jocelyn Montemayor, Victor Reyes and Raymond Africa