Transport Groups Protests Jeepney Phaseout By Holding Strike On Sept. 30
TRANSPORT GROUPS STRIKE – Major transport groups will be holding a nationwide transport strike on September 30, protesting the planned jeepney phaseout in the following year.
The government has proposed a phaseout of both jeepneys and UV express service vehicles. This is part of their Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) modernization program.
During a media forum, National President of the Alliance of Concerned Transport Organizations (ACTO), Efren De Luna lambasted the program. “Ang isyu natin ay PUV modernization na puro panlilinlang“, De Luna said.
According to ABS-CBN, he then said that there are completely legitimate associations that dream of continuing their lives. However, De luna then stated that the program would kill them.
One of the main concerns of De Luna was the inability of the government to finance the program. He asked how they could loan from the government, when the government has nothing to loan.
He then added that the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and LTFRB can’t directly give them a loan to buy new vehicles. He then talked about what he thinks is the most painful part about the situation.
De Luna then stated that if they set up a cooperative, they don’t understand why the LTFRB and DOTR wants them to surrender their individual franchises. He then said that there is no guarantee the franchises will be given back to them.
The Public Utilization Modernization Program was launched by the Department of Transportation of the Philippines back in 2017. It also calls for the phaseout of PUVs that are at least 15 years old.
These PUVs must then be replaced with newer, more comfortable, and more environmentally friendly alternatives by 2020. There are currently 220,000 jeepney units operating the Philippines.
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