Transport strike ends, Palace to review jeepney phaseout guidelines

MANILA: Earlier this week, transportation organizations demanded a week-long walkout in opposition to the government's PUV modernization program, also known as the jeepney phaseout.

Transport unions Manibela and Piston announced yesterday that the week-long strike would finish early after Malacañang pledged to further examine the Department of Transportation (DOTr) Department Order 2017-011 Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG).

Piston claimed that the walkout rendered 80% of Metro Manila, including all main thoroughfares, completely impassable. Malacañang pledged to further examine the contents of the OFG in a conversation with the two parties yesterday during the second day of tigil-pasada.

While the government did not yet appeal to the groups' demand to cancel the program totally, it did give its guarantee that drivers, operators, and commuters will be included in the aforementioned assessment moving ahead.

Currently, the government has until December 31, 2023, to revise the jeepney phaseout regulations.

Photo from Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board

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