MANILA, Philippines — Transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide on Sunday announced that it would no longer hold the nationwide coordinated jeepney strike supposed to be held on December 4 to 5.
Piston President George San Mateo made the announcement after Sen. Grace Poe, chair of the Senate public services committee called on the transport groups to reconsider their plan to stage a nationwide strike this week.
Last Tuesday, major transport groups Piston and No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition said it would hold a nationwide strike anew to protest the government’s plan to phase out jeepneys aged 15 years and older.
The transport groups said it would instead air their concerns on the jeepney modernization program at a Senate committee on public services hearing slated Thursday.
“Magkakaroon ng Senate hearing tungkol sa isyu na ito sa darating na Huwebes. Kami sa Piston umaasa kaming mabibigyang linaw na ito,” San Mateo was quoted in a press briefing Sunday.
Poe earlier said her committee wanted to sit down with the transport groups so they “can hear their concerns regarding the proposed jeepney modernization program of the government.”
Three local government units announced suspension of classes last Friday in anticipation of the strike. These are:
- Albay — all levels (except schools in islands and far-flung areas, to be determined by local school authorities)
- Camarines Sur — all levels
- Guagua, Pampanga — all levels