Members of transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide (Piston) on Monday staged a protest at Monumento Circle in Caloocan, calling the government to suspend the planned public utility vehicle modernization program (PUV-MP).
Interviewed by RH Noche Cacas, PISTON Coordinator Cerilo Latoreno explained that the group is not opposed to modernization per se.
“Ang tinututulan namin ‘yung maling pamamalakad na pilit kaming pinapasok sa consolidation tapos nilagyan na naman nila ng deadline hanggang [December] kaya tayo, ang pakiusap natin kay [Transporation] Secretary [Jaime] Bautista na sana ibasura [‘yung PUV-MP],” Latoreno said.
Earlier, PISTON national president Mody Floranda noted that the mandated consolidation under the modernization program will bury small operators and drivers in debt.
He said they will be forced to purchase a unit of modernized jeepneys that cost around Php 2.4 to Php 2.8 million, this more expensive than traditional jeepney units which cost Php 200,000 to Php 600,000 per unit.
“Sana mabigyan na kami ng PA o provisional authority ng five years,” Latoreno said.
The Piston Coordinator said the transportation strike will continue unless the government hears their plea.
He noted that PUV drivers have the right to choose whether or not they will join in the week-long protest given that no trip meant no earning.
“Okay lang iyon, ‘yung iba naman inuunawa namin dahil walang byahe, walang pera eh. Inuunawa namin,” Latoreno said.
The Piston Coordinator said they would appeal to President Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. to grant them financial aid or ayuda.
Meanwhile, in a separate interview, Floranda said the ongoing strike have paralyzed 85 percent of the routes in Metro Manila.
Halos 85-percent ng biyahe sa National Capital Region at sa mga karatig na lugar ang paralisado na, ayon kay PISTON Pres. Mody Floranda | via RH 29 @boy_gonzales, DZRH News pic.twitter.com/SnU2kqkpzD
— DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) March 6, 2023
Day one of the week-long transport strike started today, March 6, and will go on until March 12.
