FEJODAP, LTOP among groups that won't join in week-long strike

Several transport groups decided not to participate in the week-long transport holiday being organized by their colleagues.

While acknowledging other transport groups' opposition to the government’s public utility vehicle (PUV) modernization program, Federation of Jeepney Operators and Drivers Association of the Philippines (FEJODAP) President Ricardo Rebaño explained that they would continue servicing commuters next week.

“Maraming sa ating kababayan ang magsa-suffer dito samantalang pwede naman nating upuan. Mag-usap po tayo nang maayos kung ano ang problema at pwede naman nating solusyunan,” he said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(Many of our countrymen will suffer when we can sit down and talk about the problem so we can solve it.)

He said that the majority of the members of FEJODAP, including those outside of the National Capital Region (NCR), told him that they would not join the transport strike.

Meanwhile, Liga ng Transportasyon at Operators sa Pilipinas (LTOP) President Lando Marquez said that some transport groups who earlier committed to the strike have backed out.

“Nagdeklara na kami noong Huwebes pa, na ‘yung Pasang Masda, FEJODAP, ALTODAP, BCDO ACTO, Pasang Masda, ang [Stop and Go Transport Coalition], at saka lahat ng buong region na ating kasama sa transportasyon ay wala ng sasama,” he said.

(We already declared on Thursday that Pasang Masda, FEJODAP, ALTODAP, BCDO ACTO, Pasang Masda, the Stop and Go Transport Coalition, and all the regions included in the transportation groups will no longer join the strike.)

Marquez, along with Pasang Masda President Obet Martin, slammed the week-long transport strike planned by some of their colleagues.

The strike in the NCR and Central Luzon from March 6 to 12, was announced by several transport groups to protest the PUV modernization program which aims to replace traditional jeepneys with vehicles powered by more environment-friendly fuels.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) set the extension of the deadline for jeepney operators to join or form cooperatives to December 31, 2023.

Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista, meanwhile, said the government’s preparations for the transport strike include the deployment of assets to help commuters, as well as a possible one-hour extension of train services and a possible suspension of the number coding scheme. — DVM, GMA Integrated News