MANILA, Philippines — Besides Piston and Manibela, another transport group is asking President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. to reconsider the December 31 deadline for PUV consolidation — a move that could potentially leave thousands jobless.
Stop & Go Coalition president Zaldy Ping-ay in an interview with "TeleRadyo Serbisyo" this Friday appealed to chief executive stating that this is a good way to practice his "unity" slogan during the 2022 national elections.
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"We heard the pronouncement of President BBM that he would disregard the 30% because 70% have already consolidate, according to the data of [Department of Transportation]," said Ping-ay in Filipino.
"If we look at the teachings of God, like in the Parable of the Lost Sheep, that He doesn't look at the 99 who are righteous but the remaining one. The minority is very important to make things whole."
Marcos this month insisted that the government will no longer extend the deadline, stating that 70% have already consolidated into cooperatives and corporations.
This, however, was earlier debunked by Piston, saying that the 70% includes buses and not only public utility buses and UV Express units. Said claim is supported by data shared by the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to the media.
Piston earlier said that around 140,000 drivers and 60,000 operators nationwide are about to be economically displaced next year since 64,639 PUJs (43%) and 6,756 UVE units (35%) are yet to be consolidated.
"This is the message that we want to convey to President BBM... How can we unify the nation if people would be left behind?" continued Ping-ay.
It could be remembered that the LTFRB signed the controversial Memorandum Circular 2023-051, stating that unconsolidated PUVs could no longer operate starting January 1, 2024.
Said consolidation effort is part of the PUV modernization program. Under the PUVMP, drivers and operators will only be given 27 months from Dec. 31, 2023 to transition into environmentally friendly minibuses and e-jeeps. Groups, however, pointed out that new units cost more than P2 million each.
Piston, Bayan Muna party-list, the No to PUV Phaseout Coalition, etc. earlier filed a petition urging the Supreme Court to release a temporary restraining order with/or a preliminary injuction to halt the implementation of said deadline and the PUVMP in general.