𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦: "PISTON, Manibela’s transport strike pushes through, opposing Gov’t’s PUVMP" by Sophia Cassandra Durado

 

Published by: Marino Peralta

Date Published: November 22, 2023

Time Published: 8:00 AM

Group of jeepney drivers under the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) and Manibela initiated a three-day transport strike, which started on November 20 and will last until November 24 in order to offset the government's deadline for vehicle modernization this coming December 31.

“This is the first step towards taking our livelihood away. This isn’t about fixing public transportation. It’s a corporate takeover,” said Mody Floranda, PISTON's president.

LTFRB deployed 250 vehicles across Metro Manila and other cities to accommodate commuters, as PISTON disabled 85% of the jeepney routes in Metro Manila and nearby provinces; the said strike led by PISTON will end on Wednesday, November 22.

According to the cooperatives under the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP), jeepneys that are at least 15 years old should be modernized for them to continue to operate.

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)’S Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III warned the PISTON jeepney drivers that if they persisted in participating in the transport strike, their franchise had a chance to be revoked.

LTFRB stated 13 routes that might be severely affected by the transport strike: Bagumbayan-Pasig, Pasig-Taguig via Maestrang Pinang in Tipas, Pasig-Taguig via Pateros, Pasig Market-Taguig via Bagong Calzada, Guadalupe Market-L. Guinto via Pasig Line, Marikina-Pasig, Novaliches-Malinta, Shelter Ville-Novaliches via Camarin Road, Bagumbong-Novaliches, Deparo-Novaliches via Susano, Paco-Sta. Mesa via Nagtahan, NIA-NPC to Mindanao Avenue-Congressional, and Baclaran-Sucat as approximately 100,000 drivers and operators are currently to taking part in the three-day transport strike.

Meanwhile, transport group Manibela announced that they would join forces with PISTON and conduct another transport strike in opposition to the modernization deadline from Wednesday, November 21, to Friday, November 24.

"Simula bukas ang Manibela at iba nating kasamahan ay kasama na sa magtitigil pasada, nationwide," said Manibela Chairperson Mar Valbuena on a statement given on November 21.

Manibela members from the National Capital Region, Central Luzon, Southern Tagalog, Central and Western Visayas, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Sultan Kudarat, and the Davao Region in Mindanao are all expected to join the nationwide strike. The said protest will start at the University of the Philippines Diliman all the way to Welcome Rotonda in Quezon Avenue.

Manibela Chairperson also stated that the on-going strike was already planned by Manibela and PISTON two weeks ago, and they just started at a different time.

"Kahit sinong transport group ang minamaliit mo, buong transport sector ang minamaliit mo hindi lamang yung isang grupo. Sinasabi walang epekto. Yung mga maaapektuhan po, pasensya na kayo. Laging pinagmamalaki sa atin ng gobyerno, may libreng sakay naman. Tignan po natin dahil pinagmamalaki nila na may libreng sakay, gobyerno po ang sisihin ng taumbayan hindi kami," Valbuena said as they condemned government officials who belittled PISTON’s strike.

REFERENCES:

Bautista, F. M. G. N. V. J. (2023, November 20). LTFRB identifies 13 routes affected by jeepney strike. INQUIRER.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1862394/ltfrb-identifies-13-routes-affected-by-jeepney-strike

Andrea Taguines, ABS-CBN News. (2023, November 17). LTFRB asks jeepney drivers: Call off transport strike. ABS-CBN News. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/17/23/ltfrb-asks-jeepney-drivers-call-off-transport-strike

100,000 jeepney drivers, operators expected to join transport strike next week — PISTON. (2023, November 16). Cnn. https://www.cnnphilippines.com/news/2023/11/16/piston-three-day-transport-protest.html

Rivas, R. (2023, November 20). Jeepney drivers hold another transport strike as Marcos fails to act on campaign promise. RAPPLER. https://www.rappler.com/business/jeepney-drivers-transport-strike-marcos-fails-campaign-promise-november-2023/

Beltran, M. (2023, November 20). Philippines’ jeepney drivers strike again as modernisation deadline looms: ‘it will bury us in debt.’ South China Morning Post. https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/economics/article/3242190/philippines-jeepney-drivers-strike-again-modernisation-deadline-looms-it-will-bury-us-debt

ABS-CBN News. (2023, November 21). Manibela sets nationwide transport strike Nov. 22-24. ABS-CBN News. https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/11/21/23/manibela-sets-nationwide-transport-strike-nov-22-24