In response to Marcos Jr’s remark that the planned transport strike against the PUV phaseout will cause more suffering to the people, transport group PISTON said if the president is genuinely sincere on people’s welfare, his government should immediately act on junking the full implementation of the PUV Modernization Program, Oil Deregulation Law, and other anti-poor and self-serving policies that burden the poor more than a transport strike or any form of protest.
They remind the president that the transport strike is a result of government neglect in offering better services and support to drivers and small operators and in fulfilling its duty in ensuring that public mass transportation, as a public utility, remains affordable, efficient, and pro-people.
“Paano n’ya masasabing nauunawaan niya ang kalagayan ng mga manggagawang maaapektuhan ng tigil-pasada kung hanggang sa kasalukuyan wala pa rin siyang tugon sa panawagang dagdadg sahod at pagpapababa ng presyo ng mga bilihin? (How can he say that he understands the situation of workers who will be affected by the transport strike if up to now, he still hasn’t responded to the call for wage increase and lowering of prices of goods?)” said Mody Floranda, PISTON national president.
Meanwhile, PISTON holds on to its demand to suspend and review the PUVMP in spite of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) extending the deadline for the franchise consolidation of traditional jeepneys and UV Express to December 31, 2023.
“Maliit na tagumpay lamang ito pero hindi tayo titigil sa pagpoprotesta dahil ang panawagan natin sa gobyerno ay itigil at repasuhin ang PUVMP at ibalik ang mga indibidwal na prangkisa ng mga jeepney operator, hindi extension ng deadline (This may be a small win, but we will not stop protesting because our call to the government is to stop and review the PUVMP and bring back the individual franchises of jeepney operators, not just extend the deadline),” said Floranda.