Traffic builds on España as police block transport protesters

Motorists on España Boulevard faced heavier than usual traffic after the Manila Police District (MPD) blocked the protesters who were opposing the PUV Modernization Program while they were heading to Welcome Rotonda.

The MPD’s traffic enforcement unit shut a portion of Welcome Rotonda to prevent the jeepneys of transport groups PISTON and Manibel from entering the area, Super Radyo dzBB Manny Vargas reported.

The police blockade caused traffic to build along España Boulevard going to Quezon City, GMA Integrated News’ Joseph Morong said on X (formerly Twitter).

According to the MPD, its personnel blocked the protest caravan because they allegedly caused disorder during their previous protest in the area.

The protesters would be allowed to carry on with their activities once the Manila government gives them permission, the MPD added.

As early as 8:30 a.m., the protesters gathered at UP Diliman. The protest caravan already passed Commonwealth Avenue, Philcoa, and Quezon Avenue.

It was set to stop at the Welcome Rotonda at 11 a.m. From there, those joining the protest would march to Mendiola in Manila.

Heads up motorists! España Blvd going to Quezon City experiencing bottleneck as police block protesting drivers of Manibela and PISTON at Welcome Rotonda @gmanews ?@24OrasGMA? pic.twitter.com/nUIrBvfwwD

— Joseph Morong ???????? (@Joseph_Morong) January 16, 2024

Manibela said protesters want President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to reinstate the revoked franchises of drivers and operators who were unable to consolidate.

Marcos earlier declared that there would be no extension to the December 31, 2023 deadline for the consolidation of operators as part of the government’s PUV Modernization Program.

Those who failed to apply for consolidation would no longer be allowed to operate starting January 1, 2024, especially in routes where 60% of PUVs had applications.

But those who operate in routes with less than 60% consolidation or with zero consolidation would still be allowed to ply their routes until January 31.

Authorities said that half of the jeepneys in Metro Manila could be considered "colorum" starting February 1, 2024.

PISTON said it is still awaiting the decision of the Supreme Court (SC) regarding their petition for the issuance of a temporary restraining order (TRO) to halt the implementation of the December 31, 2023 deadline.

Started in 2017, the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) aims to replace traditional jeepneys with vehicles that have at least a Euro 4-compliant engine to lessen pollution and replace units that were not deemed roadworthy under the standards of the Land Transportation Office.

The consolidation of individual PUV franchises into cooperatives or corporations is the initial stage of the PUVMP. This aims to pass the burden of acquiring modernized units from operators to the transport entity.

A modern jeepney unit costs over P2 million, an amount that even state-run banks LandBank and Development Bank of the Philippines said was too expensive for PUV drivers and operators.

On December 28, 2023, the SC asked the DOTr and the LTFRB to comment on a pending petition seeking to stop the implementation of the program.

The petition was filed by several groups including PISTON, Para-Advocates for Inclusive Transport, No to PUV Phaseout Coalition, and Bayan Muna party-list. — DVM, GMA Integrated News