Jeepney drivers hold transport strike anew as modernization program bared corporations’ sway over PUVs
by Jermaine Angelo Abcede
Jeepney drivers — led this time by Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (PISTON) — staged another nationwide transport strike to oppose the public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program, which puts jeepney drivers under big corporations and cooperatives’ control.
As the deadline set by the government for the consolidation of PUV units looms, transport groups fear that it will only result in the monopoly of corporations and established cooperatives in franchising, management, and PUV routes.
“‘Wag na nila lituhin ang taumbayan. Ang franchise consolidation ay phaseout. Ang franchise consolidation ay pagbawi at pagmasaker sa mga indibidwal na prangkisa at pagpasa nito sa mga malalaking transport corporation na sila lang may kapasidad na magbayad at sumunod sa mga pakana ng gubyerno,” PISTON national president Mody Floranda stated.
Under the government’s guidelines, individual jeepney operators must consolidate their units to either corporations or cooperatives by Dec. 31, 2023. Non-compliance would result in the revocation of jeepney drivers’ franchises and would mean they would no longer be permitted to operate.
PUV operators can form cooperatives or corporations to register their jeepney units to the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) and be granted a new franchise. However, each registration requires at least 15 units with each unit amounting from Php 1.6 million to Php 3 million — a price too expensive for regular jeepney drivers to afford.
The franchise will belong to the corporations and cooperatives, not to the individual operators.
PISTON said that this proposed consolidation would only favor large corporations and established cooperatives, leaving behind small operators who cannot consolidate their units due to the high cost.
As of Oct. 31, government data show that only 95,869 out of 170,086 jeepney units nationwide, or 56.37% have been consolidated into corporations and cooperatives.
It can be recalled that jeepney drivers agreed to end their strike last March as the administration vowed to review the modernization program but up to this day, the guidelines remain marred with provisions that place jeepney drivers at a disadvantage.
PISTON further noted that it would be less costly if the government would just assist them to upgrade their units to fuel-efficient and environment-friendly ones instead of buying entirely new units.
This transport strike, which is set to last until Wednesday, is already the fourth organized transport strike this year, with the first three being headed by the transport group Manibela.
