Transport group continues protest vs PUVMP today

MANILA, Philippines — Members of the transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON) will hold a protest in front of the Land Transportation, Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) today to call for the suspension of the implementation of the public utility vehicle modernization program or PUVMP.

In an interview, PISTON president Mody Floranda said traditional jeepney drivers are not losing hope despite President Marcos’ decision to junk a Senate resolution calling for the suspension of the PUVMP.

“We will be at the LTFRB at 10 a.m. (Tuesday) to continue our call to suspend the PUVMP,” Floranda said.

The transport group has initiated a signature campaign, asking commuters to sign a petition supporting the continuous operation of traditional jeepneys.

“Our actions will continue. We will go to the LTFRB to protest the failure to acknowledge the Senate resolution,” Floranda said. “Commuters have signed a petition to either junk or suspend the implementation of PUVMP.”

Floranda backed the position of Senate President Francis Escudero that the LTFRB has no authority to cancel the franchise of public utility jeepeneys.

“We have been questioning the authority of the LTFRB to cancel our franchises as it was issued only under an executive order,” Floranda said.

“The law gave the LTFRB the power to oversee the release of franchises, but it is not authorized to revoke the same,” he added.

Meanwhile, Floranda said the oil price rollback only gives false hope to PUV drivers amid the unpredictability in the cost of petroleum products.

“In the past week, oil prices increased. Now there is a rollback. It seems that the prices of petroleum products are being manipulated,” Floranda told The STAR.

In separate advisories, oil companies announced that the prices of gasoline would go down by P1.15 per liter; diesel by P1.90 and kerosene by P1.80.

“The rollback is meaningless amid the oil price hikes in the previous week and months,” Floranda said.

PITX expects 170,000 returning passengers

As classes and work resume today, about 170,000 passengers are expected at the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

PITX spokesman Jason Salvador said those who went to the provinces during the holidays are expected to return to Metro Manila.

PITX recorded over 190,000 passengers for the long weekend on Aug. 22.