Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (PISTON) on Monday, Nov. 20, asked the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to stop confusing the public amid the looming consolidation deadline.
This came after LTFRB chair Teofilo Guadiz III assured drivers and operators that no jeepney phaseout would ensue after the December 31 deadline for public utility jeepney (PUJ) franchise consolidation.
“Wag na lituhin ang taumbayan. Ang franchise consolidation ay phaseout,” PISTON said in a statement posted on its official X (formerly Twitter) page.
READ ➡️ PISTON QUICK REACTION TO THE STATEMENT OF CHAIR GUADIZ pic.twitter.com/VJV3562fv6
— PISTON (@pistonph) November 20, 2023
Under the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP), the consolidation requires jeepney drivers and operators to organize into cooperatives or cooperation.
“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 gobyerno. Ginagawang malaking negosyo ang simpleng kabuhayan ng mga ordinaryong Pilipino,” it added.
The transport group noted that it was also rallying against the “phaseout of livelihood” being pushed by the government amid pressing crises of hunger faced by Filipinos.
“Hindi lang naman phaseout ng sasakyan ang pinaguusapan natin, kundi phaseout ng kabuhayan na itinutulak ng gobyerno sa harap ng tumitinding krisis at kagutuman sa bansa,” it added.
PISTON emphasized that threat of jeepney phaseout looms until there is franchise consolidation.
“Hangga’t may franchise consolidation, may phaseout. Hangga’t may deadline sa franchise consolidation, hangga’t hindi nababasura ang PUVMP, tuloy and welga,” the transport group said.
