• CHERYL G. CRUZ
Members of the No to PUV Phaseout Coalition Western Visayas (NPPCWV) will join the nationwide transport strike today, April 15, in response to the recent pronouncement of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. that there will be no further extension of the franchise consolidation deadline after April 30.
NPPCWV convenor Noly Rosales said in a media advisory that there will be a caravan at 1:30 p.m. going to Bacolod City to join the transport coalition at Marapara in Barangay Bata.
A transport group in Talisay City plying the Bacolod northbound terminal under Undoc-PISTON will join the strike April 15 against the April 30 deadline for consolidation, the advisory added.
Rosales and Lilian Sembrano, another convenor of NPPCWV, sought assistance from the Bacolod Sangguniang Panlungsod March 20 on the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) and the modification of route rationalization, or the Local Public Transport Route Plan (LPTRP) of the city.
Sembrano said that if the government could assist them, like in the acquisition of modern jeeps, then their group would also support the PUVMP.
She said that NPPCWV is composed of members of Knetco Piston, Undoc Piston, Samahan ng mga Taxi Drivers Association Bacolod, and the Organized Modern Operators and Tricycle Drivers.
Transport group Piston, together with Manibela, declared a new transport strike to begin today with Marcos’ recent decision on the April 30 final consolidation deadline.
“This is an oppressive move by the Marcos Jr. government,” Ruben Baylon, deputy secretary-general of Piston, said in a statement. “The series of hearings on the PUVMP in Congress is not yet complete, and our petition against it is still pending before the Supreme Court. Despite this, the regime is rushing to take away the livelihoods of small operators and drivers.”
“It’s evident that the Marcos administration isn’t listening to the transportation sector’s grievances. If they weren’t swayed by the consecutive strikes last year, we won’t hesitate to stage even stronger actions this April,” Baylon claimed.
Piston said their demand goes beyond another deadline extension, adding they are calling for the complete junking of the franchise consolidation requirement and the entire PUVMP.
Marcos said April 10 the franchise consolidation will no longer be extended after he approved an extension in January to provide an opportunity to those who want to consolidate. “Asahan po ninyo wala na pong extension ‘yung modernization (PUVMP). Kailangang na kailangan na natin ‘yan.”
To address the illegal operation of vehicles without necessary permits or authorization, Marcos said he has tasked the Department of the Interior and Local Government to carry out appropriate measures through law enforcement.
The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said in a Presidential Communications Office report that PUVs totaling 190,000 units, comprising of UV Express, PUJs, mini-buses and buses, have availed of consolidation.
The government is pushing for the PUVMP to transform the public transport system in the Philippines, making both commuting and public transportation operations more dignified, humane, and on par with global standards, the PCO said. | CGC
