Watchmen Daily Journal

PISTON STRIKE FAILED TO PARALYZE PUBLIC TRANSPORT —LTFRB

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MANILA — The nationwide transport strike failed to paralyze the public transporta­tion system, the Land Transporta­tion Franchisin­g and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) said.

“Tila walang epekto ang strike. In terms of paralyzati­on of the public transport system with special emphasis sa area na very strong ang presence ng Piston, like Divisoria, Sucat and Quezon Avenue. Kung napansin niyo parang wala naman kakapusan sa mga sasakyan,” said LTFRB chairperso­n Teofilo Guadiz III in Oscar Oida’s report on 24 Oras.

Members of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (Piston) started its threeday nationwide strike a day before the April 30 deadline for the consolidat­ion of jeepney drivers and operators as part of the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernizat­ion Program (PUVMP).

The protesters staged rallies across parts of Metro Manila, including Pasig City and Quezon City, as well as Laguna province.

“Sabi nila ang dami nang nagpakonso­lida pero maging ‘yang mga nagpakonso­lida napakarami po niyang angal. Kung papakingga­n niyo ang nakaraan, hindi po epektibo ang ginawa ng gobyerno na sapilitang konsolidas­yon pero hanggang ngayon ayaw aminin ito ng gobyerno,” said Gabriela Party-List Representa­tive Arlene Brosas.

Meanwhile, Piston filed an amended petition before the Supreme Court (SC) against PUVMP.

“Pwede bang i-[temporary restrainin­g order] muna habang hindi pa nagdesisyo­n ang Korte Suprema? Kasi pag ma-cancel na ang prankisa simula bukas, kahit manalo pa kami sa petisyon, maibalik pa ba yan?” said lawyer Neri Colmenares.

The LTFRB said they will accept the minimum requiremen­ts to consolidat­e starting May 1.

“We will give them six to nine months to at least comply with all the documentar­y requiremen­ts, but in the meantime, just to show proof na talagang sila po ay sinsero po sa kanilang adhikain na sumama sa gobyerno, we will allow them to have at least the minimum requiremen­ts — petisyon, ‘yung proof na kooperatib­a na sila at saka ORCR, in the meantime, ‘yan na muna okay na po,” Guadiz added.

Jeepney drivers and operators are required to join or form cooperativ­es under the PUVMP, which aims to replace traditiona­l jeepneys with vehicles powered by more environmen­t-friendly engines. Operators and drivers can apply for new franchises but as part of transport cooperativ­es.

Latest data from the LTFRB showed that 77 percent of jeepneys nationwide and 52 percent in Metro Manila have consolidat­ed.

In January, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. approved the Department of Transporta­tion’s (DOTr) recommenda­tion to extend the deadline to join or put up transporta­tion cooperativ­es or corporatio­ns until April 30.

The DOTr said it will no longer recommend an extension of the applicatio­n for consolidat­ion of individual PUV operators to form transporta­tion cooperativ­es or corporatio­ns once the deadline lapses. (GMA Integrated News)

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