MANIBELA, PISTON to hold 2-day transport strike starting April 15

Transport groups PISTON and MANIBELA on Thursday announced that they would hold a nationwide transport strike next week amid the looming deadline for consolidation of public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers and operators. 

A tweet by GMA Integrated News' Joseph Morong said the transport strike will last for two days and will start on Monday, April 15.

At a press briefing, MANIBELA president Mar Valbuena said they expect some 30,000 jeepney drivers to join the protest in the the National Capital Region and at least 100,000 others to join nationwide. 

Valbuena insisted that only Congress has the power to revoke franchises.

In an interview on Unang Balita earlier Thursday, PISTON national president Mody Floranda maintained their opposition to the PUV consolidation, which is part of the government's PUV Modernization Program (PUVMP).

"Ang nilalabanan po namin ay 'yung franchising consolidation, hindi po 'yung modernization. Malinaw ang ating posisyon sa ilalim ng modernization ay dapat sa ilalim ng rehabilitation," he said. 

(What we are opposing is the franchising consolidation, not the modernization. Clearly, our position on modernization is rehabilitation.)

On Wednesday, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. said there would be no more extension of the April 30 deadline for consolidation.

Both PISTON and MANIBELA said they would still operate even after the April 30 deadline has elapsed.

"Tatakbo kami sa May 1. Kongreso lang ang puwedeng magtanggal sa prangkisa. Tatakbo at tatakbo kami, kung hulihin niyo kami, kami na mismo ang lalapit sa inyo," said Valbuena. 

(We will operate on May 1. Only Congress can revoke the franchise. We will operate, and if you apprehend us, we ourselves will come to you.)

Started in 2017, the PUVMP aims to replace 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 program. 

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.

Floranda said they are the removal of legitimate franchises just to supposedly give them to big corporations.

“Ang sinasabi nila sa ilalim ng modernization, ang gusto lang nilang ayusin ay yung ating mga sasakyan pero bakit kailangan nilang bawiin o kumpiskahin yung ating mga lehitimong prangkisa para pahawak sa malalaking corporation yung ating franchise,” he said.

(What they are saying is that under modernization, they only want to fix our units. But why do they have to take back or confiscate our legitimate franchises so that big corporations take charge of our franchises?”

Meanwhile, PISTON called on the Marcos administration to cut the taxes on fuel products and review the Oil Deregulation Law following the recent price hikes. 

Fuel companies increased prices this week — P1.10/liter for gasoline, P1.55/liter for diesel, and P1.40/liter for kerosene. —Sherylin Untalan and Joviland Rita/VAL/KBK, GMA Integrated News