May 2025
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PISTON: System errors and red-tagging undermine election credibility, underscores need for manual count
Piston expresses deep concern over reports released by the Makabayan Coalition citing 29 incidents of automated counting machine (ACM) errors and 15 cases of red-tagging on election day, as of 10:00 AM, May 12. These reports include ballots being rejected or mishandled by ACM, smudged ballots, overvoting issues, manual ballot collection due to machine failure,…
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Piston on new DOTr order: Cosmetic ‘reopening’ of consolidation does not address livelihood threats
Piston denounces the newly issued DOTr Department Order No. 2025-009 (DO-2025-009), “Guidelines on the Reopening of Applications for Consolidation and Issuance of Provisional Authorities for Unconsolidated Individual Operators,” as yet another measure that places the burden squarely on the backs of small PUV drivers and operators. While DO-2025-009 purports to offer a “more equitable and…
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Piston on DOTr’s mandatory drug testing for PUV drivers: Safe roads require stable jobs, living wages, and humane working hours for drivers
Piston strongly opposes the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) recent pronouncement mandating drug testing for all public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers. While ensuring road safety is crucial, this blanket policy is yet another punitive measure that unfairly targets drivers without addressing the real roots of transport problems. Mandatory drug testing, especially when implemented without proper safeguards…
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Piston: Rider layoffs, fatal bus crash show public transport is in crisis
Piston warned of a deepening public transport crisis, citing the government’s planned removal of 14,000 MoveIt riders, a deadly bus crash along SCTEX, and the continued jeepney phaseout as signs of a system in collapse. “This is no longer about isolated incidents,” said Mody Floranda, PISTON national president and Makabayan senatorial candidate. “This is a…