Over 5,000 to join ‘unity walk’ to protest PUVMP suspension

Some 5,000 to 10,000 drivers and operators of transport cooperatives will join the “unity walk” set on Monday, Aug. 5, to express their opposition to the Senate resolution recommending the suspension of the Public Utility Vehicles Modernization Program (PUVMP).

Christian Maño on Super Radyo DzBB reported that the pro- PUVMP groups will gather at the Mabuhay Welcome Rotunda in Quezon City at 6 a.m. and march to Malacañang Palace.

According to Ed Comia, convenor of the Kooperatiba at Korporasyon ng Alyansang Pilipino para sa Modernisasyon (AKKAP MO), simultaneous strikes will also be held in other parts of the country such as Cagayan de Oro and Cebu.

In an interview on DzBB Melencio Vargas, president of the Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (ALTODAP), said the pro-PUVMP groups were not given the chance to speak during the Senate hearing.

“Nalulungkot ako kung bakit ginawa ito ng Senado. Parang ang nabigyan ng pagkakataon [sa pagdinig] ay 'yung 20 percent [na hindi nag-consolidate]. Kaming 80 percent [na nag-consolidate], hindi nabigyan ng pagkakataong magsalita,” Vargas said.

“Nakakasama ng loob, sumunod na kami. Kung gusto nilang ipatigil ito, dapat 2016-2017 pa lang tinutulan na nila ito,” he added.

(It is disappointing that the Senate did this. It seems that during the hearing, the 20% unconsolidated PUVs were the only ones given the chance to speak. For us in the 80% who consolidated, we were brushed off. We were displeased as we followed the program. If they wanted to stop this, they should have done it in 2016 to 2017.)

Earlier, 22 of 23 senators signed a resolution calling for the temporary suspension of the PUVMP.

Meanwhile, Jeph Gochengco, national president of the Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP), said the “Magnificent 7” will not join the “unity walk” as they believe a transport strike is not the solution to address the issues concerning the PUVMP.

“Kami sa Magnificent 7 kabahagi ang FEJODAP, hindi sumang-ayon sa unity walk subalit nakikisimpatiya rin naman kami sa mga hinaing ng mga kasama natin sa kooperatiba. Kawawa po ang sambayanan mananakay, di po sila kasali dito,”  Gochengco said in a separate interview on DzBB.

(We at the Magnificent 7, including the FEJODAP, disagree with the unity walk but we sympathize with the grievances of our fellow cooperatives. Our commuters will suffer, they are excluded from this issue.)

The so-called “Magnificent 7” is composed of FEJODAP, Pasang Masda, Alliance of Transport Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines, Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations, Stop and Go Transport Coalition, Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas, and National Federation of UV Express Inc.

In another DzBB interview, Philippine National Police spokesperson Police Colonel Jean Fajardo said they will put border controls and checkpoints tonight in preparation for the unity walk.

She added the PNP will deploy their mobile patrol vehicles should there be a need for more transportation.

“Pinapakiusap sa mga mag unity walk na sana wag i-harass yung mga kapwa tsuper nila na hindi lalahok at mamasada lang, dahil pagkakataon nila magphayag ng kanilang damdamin at nirerespeto namin yan,” Fajardo said.

(We request that those who will join the “unity walk” not harass their fellow drivers who will not participate and choose to ply their routes because it is the pro-PUVMP’s chance to express their opposition to the Senate resolution and we respect that.)

The Manila Police District said it would deploy cops to strictly monitor the "unity walk." —Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News