Gov’t ready to dialogue with transport groups
The government is now willing to hold a dialogue with transport groups on how to modernize their public utility vehicles (PUVs) one day after President Duterte vowed to phase out dilapidated and smoke-belching jeepneys by next year.
Presidential spokesman Ernesto Abella, however, said the government would not forge any compromise with the protesting transport sector “when public good is at stake.”
Abella argued that switching to modern and environment-friendly PUVs will benefit everybody, including drivers, operators, and commuters.
"Government is open to more healthy dialogue, discussion, and responsible engagements with transport groups that wish to learn and contribute to the development of the PUV Modernization Program,” he said.
"This is a wide window of opportunity for everyone – drivers, the operators, the riding public. The public needs to discern that some ideological influences can derail the greater good. Let us move forward towards the comfortable life that PRRD (President Rodrigo Roa Duterte) is fighting for,” he added.
The President had earlier told public transport groups to modernize their units before the end of the year, citing pollution and health concerns. He threatened to arrest those who will defy the government’s program and to impound old smoke-belching vehicles by January, 2018.
“Either you must modernize next year those jeeps of yours. You must sell them to the junkyard. Next year I do not want to see any single PUJ. If I see one, you will be apprehended,” he said in Filipino during his visit to Marawi City on Tuesday.
The President’s threat came after the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) launched a two-day transport strike to protest the government’s jeepney phase-out plan.
Diesel-fed jeepneys are the main public transport of commuters in many parts of the country today. The vehicles have also become a national symbol of Filipino creativity due to their colorful designs.
The government, however, wants to phase out old jeepneys for vehicles that contribute less to pollution.
Abella explained that the President’s fervid support of PUV modernization goes back to the attempts of previous administrations to carry out the plan. He noted that such previous attempts were thwarted by ideologically based transport strikes and protests.
“However, when public good is at stake, the Duterte administration will not compromise,” he said.
“This is the message of the President’s speech yesterday (Tuesday). It underscores the national leadership’s strong political will and decisive stance to initiate reform in the public transportation sector,” he added.
LTFRB warning
Meanwhile, franchises of jeepney operators who participated in the two-day strike Monday and Tuesday can be suspended for violating a board order, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said on Wednesday.
LTFRB member and spokesman lawyer Aileen Lizada said the holder of a franchise cannot suspend or stop operations as a sign of protest or objection to any government decision under LTFRB Memorandum Circular (MC) 2011-004. Violators, she said, will be subject to cancellation or suspension of their franchises.
"Nor shall the PUV operator tolerate, allow, or authorize personnel to join others committing acts prejudicial to the riding public, including, but not limited to, paralyzing transport services by intimidation, coercion, or violence," she said.
There were reports about unruly drivers and operators who were blocking way of fellow drivers and asking them to join in the protest. Lizada asked the protesters to carry out the protest peacefully. "They have a constitutional right to assembly; in the same manner, the drivers have the right as well to work a living," she said.
A decision of cancellation or suspension of the franchises of those who joined the strike is up to the board, Lizada said.
The board has yet to finalize which franchises are to be suspended. A hearing on the issue is being considered. (With a report from Alexandria Dennise San Juan)