AFTER two days of protests, transport groups ended their nationwide strike following a meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday evening and after securing a government commitment to review the guidelines of the public utility vehicle modernization program.

Manibela and PISTON, or the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide, said they would end what was supposed to be a week-long protest to pave the way for discussions on the implementation of the modernization program.

They would be included in the talks, said Manibela chair Mar Valbuena.

Valbuena said the transport groups are relying on the statement of President Marcos Jr. that the administration is open to studying and revising the implementation of the PUV modernization program to maintain the livelihood of jeepney drivers and operators.

“Sa dahilang ito, upang masimulang ang diskurso, nag desisyon ang aming grupo na ihinto ang transport strike kasama ang PISTON at magbalik pasada na simula bukas (Because of this, and to begin the discussions, the group and PISTON decided to return to the roads beginning tomorrow),” Valbuena said in a video released late Tuesday night.

PISTON president Mody Floranda sat beside him as he read the statement. 

Valbuena said the transport groups are not against the idea of modernizing PUVs, but they want this to be implemented in an inclusive, humane, and reasonable way. 

He also apologized to commuters affected by the group’s decision to go on strike to air their grievances. 

Floranda, in a separate press conference on Wednesday, said the group is also banking on the President’s statement that old jeepneys won’t be stopped from operating as long as these are compliant with guidelines and roadworthy.

He said the transport group leaders likewise asked the President to issue an executive order to suspend Department Order 2017-11, which is the core policy for the modernization program. 

Transport group leaders meet with Presidential Communications Office Secretary Cheloy Garafil and Office of the Executive Secretary Undersecretary Roy Cervantes to air their concerns | photo courtesy: Malacañang

Why the drivers protested 

The government’s modernization program would require operators and drivers of traditional jeepneys to shift to modern jeepneys, leading to fears that they would lose their livelihood. 

Many complained about the program’s implementation as drivers could ill afford the new vehicle and received very little support from the government to make the shift. 

Others also said they don’t want the iconic jeepneys to be removed from the roads. 

This was why the transport groups went on strike. 

Prior to the palace meeting, the President indicated his openness to the review of the modernization program.

Marcos said earlier that the jeepney modernization could still be improved and that there might be no need to remove old jeepneys from the road if these are still in good condition and running well. 

The President’s directive 

In a statement, the Palace praised the decision to end the strike. It said Marcos had directed the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to use the extended deadline of the jeepneys’ consolidation period to review the order for the modernization program.

This is Department Order No. 2017-011 or the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines. 

The Palace said the review would ensure that all aspects of the implementation would be checked and the concerns of drivers and operators are taken into account. 

It said that upon the President’s directive, the DOTr and LTFRB would also hold extensive consultations to ensure the proper implementation of the modernization program. 

These should also make clear that the program’s focus are the drivers, operators, and commuters, it added.