No transport strike in Antique

SAN JOSE DE BUENAVISTA, Antique – The Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association (FEJODA) in the province of Antique is supporting the government’s Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program and opted not to join the three-day nationwide transportation strike starting Monday.

“We support the public transportation modernization plan because we would like to provide better services to the commuters,” FEJODA chairman Ludovico Ramos said in an interview.

He said that FEJODA has around 90 members with 105 public utility jeepneys (PUJs) units under the cooperative consolidated franchise.

Its transport cooperative, registered with the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA), is applying for a loan with the Development Bank of the Philippines to procure modern and environmentally safe vehicles.

Mary Jane Moscoso, manager of the FEJODA Transport Cooperative, said in a separate interview that they are just waiting for the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) of the Antique provincial government so they would know the number of public utilities they need to apply for a loan.

“Our cooperative is applying for the modernized public utility, but we need first to have the LPTRP,” she said.

The FEJODA cooperative, established in 2017, has its gasoline station and other livelihood projects, providing additional income to its members from their shared capital.

“We are ready for the full implementation of the transport modernization plan,” she said.

Rulo Vicente, a job order employee at the provincial capitol, said he was glad the FEJODA did not join in the transport strike because it would be difficult for him to report to work since he commutes from San Remigio, about 30 kilometers to the capitol in San Jose de Buenavista.

“Every day, I need to report to work, and so the public transport is a big help for me and the others who do not have their private vehicles,” he said. (PNA)