NATIONAL
Advocates Philippines
PISTON Announces Another Nationwide Strike
Photo credit: PISTON
Transport group, PISTON (Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide), is gearing up for another nationwide transport strike set to commence on December 14.
The strike is a move to protest against the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board's (LTFRB) enforcement of the December 31 deadline for applying for franchise consolidation, a crucial element of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
Under the franchise consolidation component of the PUVMP, operators are required to surrender individual franchises for consolidation into a single franchise owned by a cooperative or corporation, adhering to the "one route, one franchise, one operator" principle as defined by the LTFRB.
PISTON argues that this approach fosters monopoly and corporate control over public transport in the Philippines, making it accessible only to financially robust cooperatives or corporations capable of meeting the program's costly modernization standards.
With approximately 80% of all Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) operators being small-time operators, thousands are at risk of displacement by the looming December 31 deadline. PISTON contends that the current system jeopardizes the livelihoods of many drivers and their families.
Mody Floranda, the National President of PISTON, expressed frustration, stating, "Ito ba ang pamasko sa atin ng DOTr at LTFRB? Ang pagkawala ng kabuhayan ng libo-libong tsuper at operator? Mahiya naman sila. Andami nilang pamilyang gugutumin pagpasok ng bagong taon" (Is this the Christmas gift from the Department of Transportation and LTFRB? The loss of livelihood for thousands of drivers and operators? They should be ashamed. They are causing hunger for many families as the new year approaches).
Apart from urging the removal of the December 31 deadline, the transport strike demands the complete elimination of the mandatory franchise consolidation and, by extension, the entire PUVMP.
Floranda added, "Ano ba ang pumipigil kay Guadiz? Isang Memorandum Circular lang nila, mababasura na ang deadline. Kung gusto nila, kami na ang mag-draft para pipirmahan na lang niya" (What is stopping Guadiz? With just one Memorandum Circular, they can scrap the deadline. If they want, we can draft it for them, and they can just sign it).
The strike is a move to protest against the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board's (LTFRB) enforcement of the December 31 deadline for applying for franchise consolidation, a crucial element of the Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program (PUVMP).
Under the franchise consolidation component of the PUVMP, operators are required to surrender individual franchises for consolidation into a single franchise owned by a cooperative or corporation, adhering to the "one route, one franchise, one operator" principle as defined by the LTFRB.
PISTON argues that this approach fosters monopoly and corporate control over public transport in the Philippines, making it accessible only to financially robust cooperatives or corporations capable of meeting the program's costly modernization standards.
With approximately 80% of all Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) operators being small-time operators, thousands are at risk of displacement by the looming December 31 deadline. PISTON contends that the current system jeopardizes the livelihoods of many drivers and their families.
Mody Floranda, the National President of PISTON, expressed frustration, stating, "Ito ba ang pamasko sa atin ng DOTr at LTFRB? Ang pagkawala ng kabuhayan ng libo-libong tsuper at operator? Mahiya naman sila. Andami nilang pamilyang gugutumin pagpasok ng bagong taon" (Is this the Christmas gift from the Department of Transportation and LTFRB? The loss of livelihood for thousands of drivers and operators? They should be ashamed. They are causing hunger for many families as the new year approaches).
Apart from urging the removal of the December 31 deadline, the transport strike demands the complete elimination of the mandatory franchise consolidation and, by extension, the entire PUVMP.
Floranda added, "Ano ba ang pumipigil kay Guadiz? Isang Memorandum Circular lang nila, mababasura na ang deadline. Kung gusto nila, kami na ang mag-draft para pipirmahan na lang niya" (What is stopping Guadiz? With just one Memorandum Circular, they can scrap the deadline. If they want, we can draft it for them, and they can just sign it).
Dec 11, 2023
