The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) has pleaded with the MANIBELA group that plans to hold a three-day transport strike related to the controversial PUV modernization program.
Only on Wednesday did the group announce their plan to stop passing from July 24 to 26. This is after the Department of Transportation no longer talked to them about studying the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines.
The purpose of such a rule is to remove traditional jeepneys etc., from the road. They would be replaced with modern public utility vehicles that cost millions per unit and are unaffordable for some drivers and operators.
“Nananawagan kami na hindi sana matuloy ‘yung transport strike kasi ang hindi natin nakikita rito, hindi lamang ito tungkol lamang sa modernization at tsaka sa stakeholders natin na affected by the implementation of the program,” said Mercy Jane Paras-Leynes, board member of LTFRB.
“Ang pinaka-importanteng konsiderasyon dapat ‘yung mga welfare ng ating mga mananakay. Kasi sila talaga ‘yung tatamaan kung matutuloy itong transport strike.”
Mar Valbuena, president of MANIBELA, called for the sudden jeepney phaseout cancellation, re-allowing the five-year individual franchises of operators and preventing forced consolidation in cooperatives and corporations.
Only in March did MANIBELA and the PISTON militant group plan a one-week stoppage to oppose the impending June 30 phaseout of traditional jeeps under individual operators, a postponed deadline to December 31.
LTFRB asks transport groups to cancel strike on BBM’s SONA
It can be remembered that the transport groups stopped the strike after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said that they would study the revision of the PUV modernization program.
Contrary to what Valbuena says, the LTFRB maintains that they are open to dialogue and consultation with the groups while saying that the ones mentioned in the LTFRB are frequent.
It is said that the government is also preparing to help riders who may be affected by the aforementioned strike.
“Meron namang laging backup plan [na mga sasakyan] ang LTFRB kasama ‘yung mga partner agencies natin… If this pushes through, we will ensure that there are alternative means of transportation for the commuters,” added Paras-Leynes.
“Simula nitong administration na ito, what we did is to conduct consultations… Talagang araw-araw… nakikipagdayalogo sa transport [groups].”
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