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).&nbsp;
Interviewed by RH Noche Cacas, PISTON Coordinator Cerilo Latoreno explained that the group is not opposed to modernization per se.
&ldquo;Ang tinututulan namin &lsquo;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 [&lsquo;yung PUV-MP],&rdquo; Latoreno said.&nbsp;
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.&nbsp;
&ldquo;Sana mabigyan na kami ng PA o provisional authority ng five years,&rdquo; Latoreno said.
The Piston Coordinator said&nbsp;the transportation strike will continue unless the government hears their plea.
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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.
&ldquo;Okay lang iyon, &lsquo;yung iba naman inuunawa namin dahil walang byahe, walang pera eh. Inuunawa namin,&rdquo; Latoreno said.
The Piston Coordinator said they would appeal to President Ferdinand &lsquo;Bongbong&rsquo; Marcos Jr. to grant them financial aid or&nbsp;ayuda.
Meanwhile, in a separate interview, Floranda said the ongoing strike have paralyzed 85 percent of the routes in Metro Manila.
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
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 <a href="https://twitter.com/boy_gonzales?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@boy_gonzales</a>, DZRH News <a href="https://t.co/SnU2kqkpzD">pic.twitter.com/SnU2kqkpzD</a>
&mdash; DZRH NEWS (@dzrhnews) <a href="https://twitter.com/dzrhnews/status/1632613645237747712?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 6, 2023</a></blockquote>
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Day one of the week-long transport strike started today, March 6, and will go on until March 12.&nbsp;

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PISTON calls gov't to suspend modernization program