Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP) President Orlando Marquez clarified on Saturday, Oct. 14, that the so-called “Magnificent 7” constituting the largest transport groups in the country will not participate in the nationwide transport strike spearheaded by Manibela.
“Sa amin maliwanag po yung decision ng ‘Magnificent 7’ na walang sasama kahit ni isa. Lahat po ng aming nasasakupan sa buong Pilipinas ay walang sasama at hindi nga nila alam po yan,” Marquez told DZRH in an interview.
“Wala pong sumosoporta po sa amin sa ‘Magnificient 7’ diyan sa Manibela,” he added.
Marquez conceded they focused on grassroots issues around jeepney drivers and operators, especially kotong (bribery) and butaw (membership fees).
He added that their group was set to discuss the matter with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Benjamin Abalos Jr.
“Matagal na namin nirereklamo yan lalo na dun sa mga pagbabantay ng mga local government sa mga terminal ng mga colorum kaya napakarami na nagkalat,” he said.
When asked which local government units (LGUs) were involved in bribery, the LTOP president veered the issue to barangay officials participating in bribery.
“Mahirap magsalita, mamaya na lang namin sasabihin kay Secretary Abalos dahil gusto namin maipakita na yung mga barangay na nakikialam na sa mga butaw ng mga jeepney transport, tricycle, lalo na yung mga colorum na UV express na walang prangkisa ay talagang ginagawa nila daw,” Maquez said.
“Minsan yung solid na butaw namin po ay sila na nagbabantay at sila na nangongolekta. Halimbawa yung butaw namin ay 50 pesos araw-araw o kaya 100 kada unit. Iba pa yung tuwing alis ng jeep, iba pa yung arawan na butaw,” he added.
Transport group Manibela earlier announced their plan for a transport strike set on Monday, Oct. 16, to rally against the jeep modernization that threatens the phaseout of traditional public utility jeepneys (PUJs).