“Most members in my group are seniors,” he said, “My father is 72 years old, yet he drives every day because he doesn’t want to rely on his children. He needs money for medication, electricity and water to survive. Where will they find a livelihood? I’m sure no company would want to hire them anymore, right?”
For single-unit operators like Chel Mallonga, 45, the impact of the government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP) would be drastic. Once consolidation pushes through, single-unit operators will no longer be granted franchises.
Castro’s arrest, which was based on a social media post, shows a dangerous precedent for vocal critics of anti-citizen government policies. By DANIEL ASIDO Bulatlat.com MANILA – Transport group Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide (Piston) condemned the arrest of film director Jade Castro and his companions, noting that this is only…
PISTON and Samahang Manibela Mananakay at Nagkaisang Terminal ng Transportasyon (MANIBELA) announced the continuation of the transport strike from Monday, December 18 until December 25. They also saw the possibility of extending it until December 31, the deadline of franchise consolidation.
After six years of the government’s program to phase out jeepneys, thousands of drivers and operators are still feeling the cruel punishment.
In a press conference on Wednesday, March 8, Piston President Mody Floranda said that the officials from the Palace have agreed to review the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines (OFG) or the Department of Transportation’s Order No. 2017-011.
“How can a cooperative help us if we will be working for minimum wage and have payables for the next seven years?”
PISTON said that the transport strike paralyzed 80 percent of the National Capital Region’s public transportation.
On the first day of the week-long transport strike against the jeepney phaseout, it was not just the drivers and small operators that went out on the streets to protest. Young Filipinos were there, too.
Jeepney drivers held a transport strike today as the Philippine government continues its plan to phase out not only a cultural icon in the country but the most common and affordable means of transportation for ordinary folk.
“Thousands of commuters are forced to use more expensive modes of transportation, walk or use bikes to go to work. The Duterte administration continues to have no plans to address the problems of our mass transport system which has gotten worse because of government incompetence during the COVID-19 pandemic.” BY REIN TARINAY Bulatlat.com MANILA— With…