Two-day transport strike set for next week

Jeepney drivers take to the streets on Monday to fight for their livelihood | Photo by John Ryan Baldemor

A TWO-DAY transport strike was set by the transport groups PISTON and MANIBELA.

According to the group, it will be staged on September 23 to 24, Monday and Tuesday.

This is to again protest the government’s Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).

“Ilang beses nang nalantad ang kapalpakan ng PTMP sa Kongreso, kinatigan na rin ng Senado ang ating posisyon sa pagbabasura sa PTMP, pero nagmamatigas pa rin si (President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’) Marcos Jr at ang kanyang mga alipores sa DOTr at LTFRB,” according to PISTON national president Mody Floranda.

Among the demands of the group include: the junking of the PTMP; cancellation of forced franchise consolidation; renewal of franchises and registrations for all public utility vehicle (PUV) operators, including those who choose not to consolidate; zero budget for PUV phaseout programs, with funding redirected towards the rehabilitation of traditional jeepneys and subsidies for local industries; and allowing those who have entered franchise consolidation to withdraw.

Likewise, PISTON asked other local government units to take a cue from the Bacolod City Council’s resolution that sought to suspend the PTMP to pressure the national government.

The PTMP or previously Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) is said to have been initiated in 2017 in order to replace jeepneys with vehicles that have at least a Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution.

The said move is aimed to replace units that are no longer considered roadworthy.

Meanwhile, the modern jeepney unit costs over P2 million.

The consolidation of individual PUV franchises into cooperatives or corporations is the initial stage of the modernization program.

The LTFRB had said that PUVs that did not consolidate after the April 30 deadline would be deemed as “colorum” or a PUV operating without a franchise.

The DOTr said that Around 81.11% or 155,513 of 191,730 PUV units have been consolidated as of May.

A total of 36,217 PUVs have yet to consolidate.

Kiko Cueto