A coalition of transport groups has set a nationwide strike tomorrow in another attempt to toss out the government’s proposal to phase out old public utility jeepneys into more modern, environment-friendly vehicles.
The No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition headed by the Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operators Nationwide announced that they will stage a transport holiday to protest the proposed modernization for PUJs.
The group, in a statement, claimed that the “jeepney phaseout is cloaked in the words “modernization,” “route rationalization,” and other proponents of the Traffic Emergency Power being pushed in the Congress.”
They slammed the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board for consistently reiterating that “they will simply replace old units with new ones when they ask too much requirements.”
PISTON president and No to Jeepney Phaseout Coalition convenor George San Mateo said the protest will be participated in by members in Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, and Cavite. “I think we can muster at least 80 percent of drivers in Metro Manila,” San Mateo said.
He said affected cities will be Caloocan, Quezon City, Manila, Marikina, Pasig, Taguig, Makati, Paranaque, Pasay, and Las Piñas.
Their members in Cagayan Valley, Baguio City, Laguna, Bicol, Iloilo, Capiz, Bacolod, Cebu, Leyte, Cagayan de Oro City, Bukidnon, and General Santos City are also expected to join, he added.
“We appeal to commuters not to go to work so they will not be inconvenienced,” San Mateo said.
(Vanne Elaine P. Terrazola)
