Groups protest UV express phase out plan

MANILA, Philippines - Militant transport groups, led by Piston, will troop on Thursday to Mendiola in Manila to protest the government's order to phase out of 13-year-old utility vehicle express units. 

Piston Secretary General George San Mateo said the transport protest caravan left the Quezon City Elliptical Circle around 9:30 a.m. with 400 UV express operators and drivers with their families joining the march to Mendiola.

The transport caravan is expected to arrive at the historic Mendiola bridge around 10:30 a.m. where they will hold a program, San Mateo said.

He added that the protesters will ask President Benigno Aquino III to junk the similar year-model phase out plan for jeepneys. 

They will also request the government to comply with the Baguio City Regional Trial Court decision, stopping the implementation of the Department of Transportation and Communications order which substantially increase the fees for traffic violations.

The transport groups also want the DOTC and the Land Transportation Office to scrap the plan to implement an electronic tagging scheme for public utility vehicles in the country.