At least 22 transport groups in Northern Mindanao have gathered for a ‘unity walk’ on Monday, August 5, 2024, to protest a Senate resolution that seeks to suspend the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP).
According to one of the biggest transport corporations in Cagayan de Oro, the move of the Senate was surprising.
“Dili tiaw-tiaw among gibuhat is giprenda among mga yuta, gibaligya among mga jeep ug van para lang mo-support sa modernization kay ga-support man ta sa gobyerno tapos karon i-suspend,” Donald Rey Ellarina of Donsal Corporation said.
If the implementation of the PTMP will be stopped, these cooperatives and corporations may incur losses and their workers will likely lose jobs.
The Northern Mindanao Federation of Transport Cooperatives (NOMFEDTRANSCO) said the group may stage a ‘silent strike’ if the PTMP will be suspended.
“Kung ipugos gyud ang pagpahunong, mo hunong pud mi. possible nga mag silent strike mi dili sa namo padaganon among mga sakyanan para makita ang impact gyud,” NOMFEDTRANSCO Chief Operating Officer, Luzminda Escobidal, said.
IN CEBU
At least 22 transport organizations and cooperatives in Cebu that are operating modern Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) units also staged a unity walk on August 5, 2024.
“Panahon na nga tagaan nato og sakto ug safety nga transportation ang atong commuters, ang atong publiko. Kon i-suspenso, mawala ang momentum. Imbis kadtong mga kooperatiba ug corporation naa nay plano,” Ellen Bonghanoy, president of Cebu Federation of Transport Cooperatives, said.
The groups urged for solution, not suspension to the transport concern.
“Puerte gyung dakoang problema namo, kay karon pa lang gani naglisud mi og bayad, samot na kon i-suspenso ang modernization. Mao na among gipangayo nga dili lang unta suspension, hatagan lang unta og solusyon,” Robert Orilla, vice president of Cebu Federation of Transport Cooperatives, said.
The solidarity walk started at past 9 a.m. from Fuente Osmeña Circle at uptown Cebu City, and on to General Maxilom Avenue toward the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board 7 office.
IN WESTERN VISAYAS
Solution, not suspension. This is also the battle cry of the members of Western Visayas Alliance of Transport Cooperatives and Corporations, Inc. in a transport caravan at around 1 p.m. in Iloilo City.
Fourteen cooperatives in Western Visayas joined the caravan.
In Bacolod City, transport coops also put regular trips of modernized jeepneys on hold for about two hours. They said that the protest action did not affect the availability of public transport because there were other consolidated jeepneys that proceeded with their regular trips.
The groups also said that they consulted the LTFRB 6 before embarking on the protest.
(with Nikko Sereno/GMA Regional TV Balitang Bisdak and Kim Salinas/GMA Regional TV One Western Visayas)
