NOW THAT the public utility vehicle (PUV) consolidation deadline has passed, jeepney drivers that did not consolidate their franchises will be sanctioned; however, some transport groups said they will continue to stand their ground amid these threats.
Transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) announced a three-day strike from April 29 to May 1, coinciding with the April 30 consolidation deadline and Labor Day to raise livelihood concerns.
Jeepney driver Aren Lopez said he will continue to ply routes even beyond the consolidation period as he believes that they are not “at fault.”
"Pawis at dugo po ang ipinundar namin dito. Hindi namin basta ibibigay ‘to sa kanila (gobyerno) kasi dito nakagisnan namin na hanapbuhay," Lopez, who travels from Pasig to Pateros as his route, said.
(We invested our sweat and blood in here. We will not give this up to them (government) that easily because this is the [kind of] livelihood that we became accustomed to.)
By the second week of May, enforcers will start the issuance of traffic citation tickets and one-year suspension of driver’s license to drivers with “illegal” unconsolidated jeepneys, according to Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairperson Teofilo Guadiz III.
Rep. Raoul Manuel of Kabataan Partylist urged the transportation agency and President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. administration to promulgate "humane” and “long-term" solutions.
"Ang tigas talaga, pinanindigan talaga na pinipilit ‘yong ating mga jeepney driver na kumaloob sa mga kooperatiba o kooperasyon. Halatang gano'n sila ka-detached sa kalagayan ng ordinaryong Pilipino na nag ko-commute," Manuel told the Manila Pulse.
(They are so adamant, they really insisted on forcing our jeepney drivers to coalesce to cooperatives. It’s obvious that they are so detached from the well-being of ordinary Filipino commuters.)
The lawmaker said the youth sectoral party plans to persist in its “assertions” through committee hearings and petitions seeking temporary restraining orders.
Aside from junking the mandatory consolidation and modernization program, other transport groups like Manibela are pushing for the resumption of the five-year franchise.
"Naglulunsad kami ng ganito na welga para ipakita sa gobyerno na pinaglalaban namin [ang] pang hanapbuhay namin para sa pamilya," Armando Evangelista, president of Manibela Divisoria Unit, said.
(We hold protests like this to show the government how we fight for our livelihood and our families.)
Similarly, Evangelista decides not to cease from operating his traditional jeepney to support his family’s daily income.
Illegal vehicles will be confiscated, while operators will face a P50,000 penalty as declared by the LTFRB chair. — Julianne Loreign Vicente/Manila Pulse
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