Transport groups strike announced for September 30

MANILA: Jeepney and UV Express vehicles in the Philippines could phaseout in 2020, and to protest against the proposal, some of the largest transport associations from around the country will hold a strike on 30th of September, later this month. It all started around two years ago when the Land Transportation Office (LTO) proposed the Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program in front of the government of the Philippines. The president of the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO), Efren De Luna, is not in the support of this proposal. Moreover, De Luna has also said that neither the government is capable of funding the proposed program nor has it offered any kind of loans to them to purchase vehicles that are modern and supported by the proposal.

"Ang isyu natin ay PUV modernization na puro panlilinlang. One-hundred percent na lehitimong asosasyon ay nangagarap ipagpatuloy ang kanilang buhay, dito po papatayin kami", said De Luna.

The Department of Transportation gave a green flag to the PUV Modernization Program in 2017 that aims at improving the country's public transportation and make it more environment-friendly. The strike on 30th of September, i.e., Monday next week will be lead by ACTO, Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON), and Stop and Go transport groups.

"Paano kami magkakaroon ng pagkakataon na makautang sa gobyerno, eh wala namang ipaputang ang gobyerno. Ang DOTr (Department of Transportation) at LTFRB (Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board) wala silang direktang maipapautang para ipambili namin ng bagong sasakyan", added De Luna. Furthermore, De Luna is also not convinced by the LTFRB and the DOTr's demand for voluntarily surrendering their individual franchises. Especially when there is no assurance of whether or not the franchises will be returned to them.

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