Franchise cancellation renders over 500 Don Mariano Transit workers jobless

Over 500 employees of the Don Mariano Transit Corp. have been rendered jobless after transportation authorities canceled on Jan. 14 the franchise of the bus firm involved in the horrific Skyway crash that killed 21 people on Dec. 16, a television report said Wednesday.

Citing information from Don Mariano bus drivers and conductors, a report on "News To Go" said over 500 workers, including mechanics, janitors, and maintenance workers are now jobless as a result of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)'s decision against the bus firm.

"Hindi na po namin alam kung saan kukunin po ang panggagastos namin sa pang-araw-araw kasi ho wala naman po kaming pagkukuhanan, ito lang po ang alam naming hanap-buhay," said Francis Lamela, a Don Mariano Transit bus conductor said.

Lamela also stressed they are having difficulty coping with the sudden unemployment as most of them are breadwinners.

"'Yung iba hindi alam saan kukuha ng pamasahe pauwi, at saka kung ano pa ang ipapadala nila sa pamilya nila kasi umaasa sila na may mababalikan pa sila dito," he said.

Initially, the LTFRB slapped a 30-day suspension on all units of Don Marianno Transit's fleet.

"Tiniis namin ang Christmas, dumaan ang Christmas, nagtiyaga kami sa kung ano lang mayroon kami, pati 'yung New Year. Tapos ngayon, inaantay namin ang desisyon ng LTFRB ng January 16. Baka maawa pa ang LTFRB sa amin. Kaso minadali, e.

"January 14, binaba na nila ang desisyon na hindi pa pumabor sa amin," Bernardo Dim, a bus driver, told News To Go.

Dim noted that most employees who were left jobless may have difficulty in looking for a new job.

"Karamihan sa amin dito, mga 50-anyos pataas. Mahihirapan na rin po sila maghanap ng trabaho dahil wala na rin pong tatanggap sa kanila," he said.

Meanwhile, Bryan Medrano, a conductor, said he continues to hope for the reversal of the LTFRB's decision.

"Sana bigyan pa nila ng isang pagkakataon 'yung kumpanya namin para naman hindi na maghirap ang mga empleyado. Madami sa amin ang umaasa sa aming mga biyahe," he said.

Motion for reconsideration

For his part, LTFRB executive director Roberto Cabrera, in the same television report,  admitted that with the cancellation of the franchise, employees would be sacrificed.

"As an agency, we believe that we implement the law to the fullest, and we did our job 'yon lang ho... may mga effects, but hopefully 'yung ginawa namin will be far better than the effects it has caused," he said.

"I believe na, kapag ang conductor or driver ay magagaling, sigurado ho ako na makakukuha sila ng trabaho," he added.

Also, Cabrera said the firm has the option to file a motion for reconsideration within 15 days from Tuesday.

"Sa amin po ipa-file iyon (sa LTFRB), and after that, they can file an appeal to the Office of the Secretary, and the Office of the President, then sa Court of Appeals, and Supreme Court," he said.

Earlier, lawyer Jason Cantil, legal counsel for the Don Mariano Transit, said they will file a motion for reconsideration as many employees, including bus drivers, conductors and mechanics, will be left unemployed.

The Don Mariano Transit deploys 78 buses. But the owner, a family headed by Dr. Melissa Lim, owns six other bus firms, none of which were affected by the LTFRB decision.

The crash initially killed 18 people and injured 16 others, while the bus driver succumbed to his injuries seven days later. Later in statement, the LTFRB statement confirmed 21 passengers were killed, while 24 were injured in the tragedy.

No bus shortage

While the cancellation of the bus firm's franchise is still not final, Cabrera said the order also includes the "permanent" confiscation of the plate numbers of all 77 units left of the firm.

"They cannot run Don Mariano buses sa lahat po ng kalye ng Manila," he said, while noting that there will be no bus shortage in Metro Manila.

"We already checked the routes na maapektuhan po ng Don Mariano, 'yung Pacita, Novaliches, and Magallanes. We have more than enough units to service all passengers at this time," Cabrera said, when asked if there will be shortage of buses due to the cancellation of franchise.

"The public will be assured na makasasakay sila. Hindi naman po mauubos ang mga bus na dumadaan sa route na iyon," he added.

For her part, lawyer Mary Ann Salada, LTFRB chairman Winston Ginez' chief of staff, said though they believe there will be no shortage of buses in Metro Manila, they can release special buses if necessary.

The two routes of the Don Mariano Transit buses are: Baclaran-Novaliches (via Edsa Mindanao Ave.) and Pacita-Novaliches (via Quirino Mindanao Esda), she noted.

Meanwhile, in a text message to GMA News Online, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chairman Francis Tolentino also assured the public there will be no shortage of buses in Metro Manila despite the cancellation of one firsm's franchise.

Sympathetic netizens