BUSINESS AS USUAL. Pangasinan jeepney drivers continue with their business on Monday (March 6, 2023) amid a call for a weeklong transport strike. The groups, however, still appeal for reconsideration in the implementation of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Law. (Photo by Hilda Austria)
MANILA – The first day of the scheduled weeklong transport strike on Monday against the national government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program was shunned by drivers in the provinces as they continue to ply the streets and with no reports of stranded passengers.
In Central Luzon, the strike was hardly felt in Bulacan, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac, Bataan, Zambales, Aurora and Pampanga, according to Dan Yumol, chairman of the Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator and Confederation of the Passenger Transport of Central Luzon.
Most of the Pangasinan operators and drivers decided not to join but appealed to the national government to reconsider some provisions of the modernization law to remain.
In a phone interview, Alliance of United Transport Organization Province-wide Pangasinan chapter president Bernard Tuliao said the chairpersons of the transport groups in the province have decided to cancel the scheduled transport strike starting March 6.
"Most of the operators and drivers were already members of cooperatives so we thought if we join the strike, it might affect our permits or franchises later on," he said.
"We are appealing that they allow the rehabilitation of some of the traditional jeepneys as we believe the cost of the modernized jeepneys are so high that most of the drivers and operators could not avail. Despite the low-interest loan rates in banks, it is still too costly," Tuliao said.
Each unit of the modernized jeepneys costs around PHP2 million to PHP2.5 million, he said.
"We hope they will consider our appeals less we might also hold our own provincewide strike," he said.
Tuliao added that there are over 3,700 units of jeepneys with franchises in the province.
Four major transport groups in the Bicol Region did not take part due to a lack of consultation and even issued an early statement on March 5.
"There was no meeting or consultation among transport groups and to different national transport leaders before the declaration," said Exequil P. Longares of UV Express National Alliance of the Philippines.
He added that the strike will “create alarm and affect the riding public” and will only “paralyze the growing economy.”
Iloilo and Bacolod, the two highly urbanized cities of Western Visayas, also reported a normal flow of PUVs in their areas.
Transportation in Iloilo City is normal as per joint monitoring by the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.
PSTMO head Jeck Conlu said they are verifying information that there are groups that will be holding protests and if there are drivers and operators that will be joining them.
Nonetheless, he said that the 17 transport cooperatives in the city are all operational. This translates to over 2,000 traditional and modern jeepneys.
Bacolod City Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez said there have been no reports of stranded passengers on Monday morning.
"Report from the horse's mouth said among the public commuters, no one has been stranded anywhere in Bacolod," Benitez told reporters.
"We were worried that probably Barangay Granada drivers will join the strike but obviously it did not happen," he added.
The three major transport groups in the city, including the Sentrong Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Negros (SSTONE), United Drivers and Operators Center (UNDOC), and Federation of Bacolod City Drivers Association (Febacda), as well as the Bacolod Modernized Transport Group have declared not joining the transport strike.
SSTONE secretary general Jun-Jun Asis said the city government led by Benitez has been assisting them to obtain provisional authorities from the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to continue operating the traditional jeepneys for now.
As of 10:30 a.m. Monday, the usual movement of public transport is observed along the major thoroughfares in Metro Cebu, as both traditional PUJs (public utility jeepneys) and modern PUVs ply their regular routes.
Eduardo Montealto Jr., Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board-Central Visayas regional director, said although there is no transport paralysis in Cebu, his office will continue to monitor until March 10 and assess the extent of the effect of the nationwide strike.
The transport sector in the province pledged last week not to disrupt public transport despite the call for a nationwide strike.
However, at least 15 members of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON)-Cebu headed by Greg Perez held a two-hour protest action in front of the LTFRB regional field office in Cebu City on Monday morning to express their concerns regarding the Public Utility Vehicles Modernization Program.
In Eastern Visayas, based on the initial assessment and coordination by the different police provincial offices, none of the local transport groups have expressed interest in joining the transport strike, said Philippine National Police Region 8 Director Francisco Marbil.
Despite the assurance from various transport groups in the region, "we will continously monitor for any possible changes and disturbances as well as provide assistance to the public," Marbil added.
In Caraga Region, the biggest transport group in the Caraga Region also refused to take part in the protest.
“We are not joining the strike, all our cooperative members will be on the streets to provide transportation services to the people of the Caraga Region,” said Juanito Ubas, chair of the Caraga Federation of Transport Cooperatives (CARFEDTRANSCO),
He added that CARFEDTRANSCO has 18 transportation cooperative affiliates in the different provinces in the region, including Butuan City.
“The CARFEDTRANSCO joins hands with the government on standing against any form of transport strike that will do more harm than good,” the transport cooperative noted in a separate statement.
The transport industry in Region 12 (Soccsksargen) has rejected the nationwide strike and opted to continue normal transport operations.
George Mangansakan, president of the Awang-Cotabato Transport Operators and Drivers’ Association (ACTODA), said his group of about 3,000 members supports the modernization program of the government.
“The protest is too long, our drivers will have no income for four days, how can they survive?” he said in a radio interview.
Saying the transport groups issued a public statement about non-participation in the strike, Director Renato Padua of the regional Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Padua noted the transport services across the region remained normal. (Provincial Bureaus/PNA)
