Government, transport groups in standoff over consolidation deadline

MANILA, Philippines — The government and transport workers continue to be at a standoff as the two-day transport strike continues today despite a lengthy dialogue with officials of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB).

Transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide said it will continue its protest action against the public utility vehicle modernization program as the government has yet to address PISTON’s demands.

Piston president Mody Floranda said they are firm on their demands to junk the Dec. 31 deadline for consolidation and to renew the franchises and provisional authority to operate of traditional jeepneys.

“It is important to insist on the junking of the Dec. 31 deadline. It is not only the drivers and operators who will suffer, but the commuting public as well. What will happen in January?” he said following the dialogue.

Floranda lamented that LTFRB chairman Teofilo Guadiz said he no longer has the authority to remove the deadline as President Marcos already made his pronouncement not to extend.

“What we are saying is that the deadline must be removed and we must be allowed to renew provisional authority and franchises. But he (Guadiz) answered that he no longer has authority and the authority to remove the deadline is with the President,” Floranda added.

Piston and other sectoral groups have camped outside the LTFRB office in Quezon City to protest the consolidation deadline.

The LTFRB said that while the Dec. 31 deadline is non-negotiable, it is willing to give in to some of the requests of the transport groups.

It added that they have already simplified the requirements for consolidation and waived penalties for operators.

LTFRB spokesperson Celine Pialago said they are also coordinating with the Office of Transport Cooperatives to address coop management issues raised by the group.

Paralyzed

The strike of jeepney drivers from Piston paralyzed certain routes in Manila, leaving passengers struggling to board jeepneys yesterday.

According to a report from the Manila Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, lack of passenger jeepneys were seen in the following routes: Pureza to Cubao; Divisoria/Recto to Cubao; Retiro to Blumentritt; R. Magsaysay; Agoncillo to Pedro Gil; Pureza to Pasig and Augusto Francisco.

According to radio reports, 67 from the estimated 200 jeepney units that travel the route between Guadalupe in Makati City and Leon Guinto in Manila joined the transport strike. They were reportedly members of Manibela, another progressive transport group.

The city government and the Manila Police District deployed various vehicles like electric tricycles, transport trucks and patrol cars to ferry stranded commuters.

It also reported that travel of public transport vehicles went back to normal before 10 a.m., according to their monitoring.

Meanwhile, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority reported that 1,318 stranded passengers were carried by 56 vehicles from the agency and local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila, as of 5 p.m. yesterday.

No effect

On the other hand, the LGUs of Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela said they were not affected by the two-day transport strike conducted by transport group Piston on Thursday.

Caloocan City public information (PIO) office head Princess Garcia told The STAR that operations were normal since no transport groups joined the transport strike.

Jeepney drivers held a protest in Monumento on Thursday morning, ending at around 10:30 a.m. The city’s police chief, Col. Ruben Lacuesta, reported no conflicts during the protest.

In Malabon, members of the mayor’s complaint and action team and the public safety and traffic management department stationed vehicles to cater to stranded commuters in the city.

Navotas PIO head Irish Cubillan said the transport strike did not affect the city, while Valenzuela PIO head Mara Salazar said the city’s traffic department reported no stranded commuters.

There were no major disruptions in public transportation in some parts of Southern Metro Manila during the first day of the two-day nationwide transport strike.

Taguig police chief Col. Robert Baesa said the traffic situation was “normal,” noting that many jeepneys were plying around the city.

Parañaque police chief Reycon Garduque likewise said the traffic situation in the city was “peaceful,” noting that there were lots of jeepneys plying their routes.

Meanwhile, Makati police chief Edward Cutiyog said no transport groups in the city participated in the nationwide strike.

In Muntinlupa City, classes from daycare to Grade 12 in public schools were suspended during the first day of the transport strike.

The transport strike of Piston had minimal effect on the riding public, Philippine National Police (PNP) public information officer Col. Jean Fajardo said yesterday.

“The effect was minimal so far,” Fajardo said in Filipino. She added that the conduct of the transport strike was relatively peaceful.

The transport group held rallies in 16 sites, according to the PNP, with 12 in Metro Manila, three in Calabarzon and one in Western Visayas.–  Emmanuel Tupas, Mark Ernest Villeza, Nillicent Bautista, Ramon Efren Lazaro, Ghio Ong